Charlotte Bonella & Beverly Simms: Nurse Champions in Fight Against Malaria
November 9, 2011 by admin
Filed under NetRaisers
Charlotte Bonella, RN in Alberta and Beverly Simms, RN in Newfoundland have raised nearly $15,000 for nets and malarial medicines in Kawempe. We are extremely grateful for your help. Buy-a-Net was founded by a nurse, is endorsed by the Cdn Nurses Association and the Cdn Fed of Nurses Unions, and is supported by nurses. Together we work with our Ugandan nursing colleagues to help end the scourge of malaria.
First Ever Malaria Prevention Symposium in Canada
Buy-A-Net, Canadian Red Cross and Canadian Nurses Association
convened the first ever malaria prevention
symposium in Canada.
This meeting recently held in Ottawa brought agencies and
government together to share best practices and knowledge on
malaria prevention. 
Debra Lefebvre
Founder
Canadian Organizations Come Together in the Fight Against Malaria
Ottawa, ON
Today, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), the Canadian Red Cross, the Buy-A-Net Malaria Prevention Group and representatives from several organizations in Canada will meet to discuss malaria prevention in advance of World Malaria Day on April 25th. Malaria kills one million people each year and World Malaria Day commemorates global efforts to wipe out this devastating disease.
“Fighting malaria is a collaborative effort, both amongst organizations in Canada and worldwide,” says Canadian Red Cross Director General of International Operations Susan Johnson. “I am pleased to participate in discussions with other organizations, share best practices and build stronger relationships as we work towards our common goal to fight malaria and save lives.”
“The symposium will highlight the essential role that Canada has in the eradication of malaria, including the general public, the business community and government,” says Debra Lefebvre, Executive Director, Buy-A-Net Malaria Prevention Group. “I am very pleased with the opportunity for greater dialogue amongst all stakeholders, where we can share best strategies to strengthen and leverage the contributions made to combat this killer disease.”
Canada is a leader in malaria prevention. The Canadian Red Cross, with support from the Government of Canada and the Canadian public, has distributed 6.3 million insecticide-treated bed nets in Africa since 2003 and trained over 25,000 volunteers in malaria prevention. In June, the Canadian Red Cross will send 30,000 nets to Senegal as part of an integrated child survival campaign in which children aged five years and under will also receive vitamin A tablets and deworming medication.
“Interventions are needed to be effective in counting malaria out,” says CNA Director of International Policy and Development June Webber. “As nurses, we stress the importance of strengthening all dimensions of health systems in countries struggling to control malaria. Ensuring equitable access to prevention, health promotion and treatment services will contribute to effectively combating this deadly disease.”
For the last four decades CNA has worked actively to strengthen nursing and health system outcomes in more than 30 countries around the world. Guided by its vision of ‘Registered nurses: leaders and partners working to advance health for all’ and with funding support of the Canadian government and the knowledge and technical know-how of the nurses of Canada, CNA’s International Health Partnerships program works with national nursing associations in low-income countries to support their efforts to strengthen the profession and their leadership within health systems. Strengthening nursing capacity within primary health settings, where malaria-related health challenges are most evident, forms one of the program’s priorities.
Launched in 2004 and recognized as one of Canada’s leading malaria-fighting organizations, Buy-A-Net Malaria Prevention Group is Canada’s first grassroots, citizen-driven initiative aimed at malaria prevention. The volunteer-led campaign raises awareness about malaria as well as funds for the procurement of bed nets treated with long-lasting insecticide and anti-malaria medicine. Through the support of the Canadian public, over 60,000 bed nets have been distributed free of charge, one village at time, in partnership with community-based groups in Uganda, the group’s first target country.
This symposium is the first step towards a stronger collaboration in the fight against malaria, and participants are committed to continued joint efforts throughout the year and into 2010.
For more information contact:
Canadian Red Cross
Media Line
613-740-1994
www.malariabites.net
Canadian Nurses Association
Lisa Brazeau
Director Corporate Communications
613-864-1371
www.cna-aiic.ca
BUY-A-NET
Joanne Langlois
Media Consultant
613-540-1202
www.buyanet.ca
Canadian Nurses Association Endorses BUY-A-NET At World Malaria Day Commemoration
Kingston— The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has announced its official endorsement of the BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group, today acknowledging the group’s important contribution towards the prevention of malaria-related deaths in Africa, one village at a time. Despite the progression of modern medicine, malaria continues to haunt over 40% of the world’s population, infecting more than 500 million people per year, and killing over 1 million. Malaria is the leading cause of death among children in Africa, taking a child’s life every 30 seconds.
CNA’s endorsement, which coincides with World Malaria Day (April 25th), officially recognizes the efforts of the Kingston-based organization that has worked to provide bed nets and anti-malaria medication to villages in Uganda since its inception in 2004. In Kingston, World Malaria Day will officially be recognized with a commemorative Public Open House on Friday, April 25th, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall housed within Kingston’s City Hall. Lefebvre will be joined by Mayor Harvey Rosen, Senator Hugh Segal, Dr. June Webber of the Canadian Nurses Association, and the Ugandan High Commissioner, H.E. George Abola.
“The Canadian Nurses Association endorses and salutes the contributions of BUY-A-NET as a direct mechanism for the prevention of malaria deaths in Uganda,” said Marlene Smadu, President of CNA. “Canada’s nurses play an important role in strengthening global health and I congratulate the team at BUY-A-NET for their leadership in bringing forward solutions to addressing a deadly disease that affects millions.”
“This endorsement is important on two levels,” noted Debra Lefebvre, Founder of BUY-A-NET. “As a Registered Nurse myself, it is an incredible honour to have the efforts of BUY-A-NET recognized by the Canadian Nurses Association. CNA’s reputation as a leader in global health and equity issues is exemplary and well known. More importantly, I think it acts as official recognition of a very real problem that people on this side of the world can easily do something about with a bed net which costs only $6.00. Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease that has been allowed to become a global health crisis. Bed nets save lives. It’s so simple. This endorsement is an example of the collaboration that must take place on community, local, national, regional and international levels if this fight is going to be won.”
“This is what World Malaria Day is all about,” continued Lefebvre, “It is a day of determination, optimism and hope because we know that the incidence of malaria related deaths is drastically reduced by as high as 95% with the use of insecticide treated bed nets. It is an opportunity for malaria-free countries to join in the global partnership against malaria. It is a day to make the world care.”
The CNA is the professional voice of nursing in Canada. It is a federation of 11 provincial and territorial professional nursing associations. It has a 30-year history of advancing the nursing profession internationally through a program that focuses on strengthening nursing leadership capacity in resource-poor countries.
BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group is Canada’s first volunteer citizen-driven, charitable organization that seeks to prevent deaths from malaria in Africa one country at a time. The nation of Uganda was chosen as the first target country of the campaign, whose slogan “6 Bucks, BUY-A-NET, Save a life” provides advocacy and awareness about malaria as well as raises much needed funds for the procurement of long-lasting, insecticide treated bed nets and anti-malaria medicine. In partnership with community-based groups, the nets are distributed free of charge, one village at a time. and to-date it has installed approximately 25,000 anti-malaria nets. A donation of $6.00 will purchase a long lasting insecticide treated net, for a donation of $350.00 an entire African village can be netted. Donations can be made to BUY-A-NET through its website, (www.buyanet.ca) or by cheque directly to the organization located out of Kingston, Ontario.
For more information contact:
Debra Lefebvre
Founder
BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group
613-542-1264 or 613-539-2945
P.O. Box 1063, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 4Y5
debra@buyanet.ca
www.buyanet.ca
Canadian Nurses Association
March 22, 2008 by admin
Filed under NetRaisers
Update: The Canadian Nurses Association has demonstrated their commitment to saving lives from malaria. At the Centennial Celebration of the Canadian Nurses Association in Ottawa, June 2008, over $25,000.00 was raised for nets in Uganda! Canadian nurses make Canada and the world a better place! Nurses are the change!
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is very pleased to inform you of our endorsement of the BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention initiative. By endorsing this initiative, CNA acknowledges the important contribution of BUY-A-NET as a direct mechanism for the prevention of Malaria deaths in Uganda. This endorsement also expresses our willingness to support this initiative publicly.
The BUY-A-Net Malaria Prevention initiative, led by a dedicated group of volunteer Canadian Registered Nurses, contributes to the advancement of CNA’s Vision for Registered Nurses to be leaders and partners working to advance health for all. The initiative further supports CNA’s Goal five, to advance international health policy and development in Canada and abroad to support global health and equity. The leadership role of registered nurses in the initiative, in Canada and in Uganda, is an important element that stands to contribute to professional exchange and support of the nursing profession in Uganda as the project builds.
CNA has a 30-year history of advancing the nursing profession internationally, a programme that generally focuses on strengthening nursing leadership capacity in resource- poor countries so that nurses address and advocate for improved health, health system and nursing priorities. Through multiple interventions that include education, advocacy and the provision of nets, we firmly believe this initiative, BUY-A-NET, is addressing the urgent population health needs related to malaria prevention while standing to build an important professional platform that strengthens and sustains the results of this initiative.
We look forward to remaining abreast of developments and, where possible, supporting this very important initiative.
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Endorses the BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Initiative
The Canadian Nurses Association has endorsed BUY-A-NET.
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is very pleased to inform you of our endorsement of the BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention initiative. By endorsing this initiative, CNA acknowledges the important contribution of BUY-A-NET as a direct mechanism for the prevention of Malaria deaths in Uganda. This endorsement also expresses our willingness to support this initiative publicly. …
CNA has a 30-year history of advancing the nursing profession internationally, a programme that generally focuses on strengthening nursing leadership capacity in resource-poor countries so that nurses address and advocate for improved health, health system and nursing priorities. Through multiple interventions that include education, advocacy and the provision of nets, we firmly believe this initiative, BUY-A-NET, is addressing the urgent population health needs related to malaria prevention while standing to build an important professional platform that strengthens and sustains the results of this initiative.
