Deadly Threat

Newborn babies protected by a mosquito net at a clinic
staffed by volunteer HealthEd Connect Wasaidizi in Lubumbashi, DR Congo

Our tireless health workers defy a small but mighty death threat every day of their lives.  And it's not just for themselves but also for their families and entire communities.  Babies, who have developed no immunity, are the ones at highest risk.  The threat?

The annoying and deadly mosquito. 

According to the NPR Goats and Soda publication, nearly 600,000 people die every year from the Anopheles mosquito alone, making it by far the most dangerous animal on earth.  By contrast, shark attacks get big press even though the death toll in 2018 was four.

Treated mosquito nets are one of the best current deterrents and, fortunately, are being made more available by government entities.  In the meantime, Herculean efforts continue to be made to find the elusive immunization or other preventative method that will render the mosquito ineffective.  Obviously, the sooner the better.