Debra Lefebvre, a Canadian Registered Nurse and mother of four young children, travelled to Uganda in 2004. Debra witnessed the senseless loss of life and poverty caused by malaria, a disease spread through the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito. Debra decided to take action. That year, Debra launched Buy-a-Net Malaria Prevention Group. Buy-a-Net’s first net distribution occurred in the spring of 2006, in the village of Katoogo in Uganda.
- Buy-a-Net is Canada’s first grassroots, citizen driven initiative aimed at disease prevention and poverty reduction through raising awareness and funds for long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets and medicines. Pregnant women and children under five are the Group’s priority.
- Buy-a-Net partners with Ugandan community based groups. Following a process of information, education and communication, the groups distribute the nets and medicines free-of-charge, one village at a time in Uganda, the first target country. Community members are empowered to take charge of their own health, leading to enhanced capacity and sustainability of the program. Bed nets are catalysts for better health seeking behaviors.
- Buy-a-Net is volunteer led.
- Buy-a-Net Malaria Prevention Group is a registered charitable organization.
- Buy-a-Net is not a religious organization, but we are all-inclusive in our efforts. We partner with many difference agencies, including faith based groups, schools, and other community based organizations.
- To date, Buy-a-Net has protected and treated approximately 300,000 people from malaria through the kindness and generosity of individuals worldwide. We are overwhelmed with the kindness, caring and generosity of people like you.