The Simple Thing Everyone Can Do to Ensure No Child Dies From a Mosquito Bite

Every time you like and share this post, Johnson & Johnson will donate $1 (per social action), up to $500,000, via the Global Moms Relay to help improve the health and well-being of families worldwide in support of Shot@Life, UNFPA, Girl Up, UNICEF USA, and Nothing But Nets.

The minute you become a mother, your priorities shift. Your entire being is now dedicated to making sure your children are healthy, happy, and safe for the rest of their lives. As a mother of two boys, I’ve been plagued by the same anxieties and fears that every woman experiences once they become a parent – and you are changed forever because from this moment on, your priority is your children.

There are so many parents around the world who don’t have the ability to protect their children. There are millions of children and families living around the world at risk of deadly diseases, such as malaria, HIV and AIDS, and tuberculosis, who need our help – they need access to basic healthcare, support, and resources to stay healthy, to be able to go to school, and to make a living for their families.

That’s why I had to do something to help these parents protect their children. That’s why my family and I have become United Nations Foundation Nothing But Nets champions. Every child, every family, has the right to good health.

Malaria might not be something we think about much in the United States, but more than half the world’s population is at risk for malaria, and a child dies every two minutes from this deadly disease. That’s right, a child dies every two minutes from a disease that is both preventable and treatable. Can you believe that? But we can all help these parents protect their children. All it takes is a simple bed net – to be placed over a child’s bed at night to protect them from a mosquito that is only active in the evenings – and children can sleep safe and protected.

I want to see a world where no child dies from a mosquito bite – where no child suffers from a preventable and treatable disease like malaria. I have personal connections to malaria. My husband and I both have family members who have been affected by the disease and we are dedicated to helping protect refugees, children, and pregnant women who are most at-risk. I am going to Africa this summer with Nothing But Nets to meet these children and families and to raise awareness. I hope you’ll join me in supporting these families who need our help.

I envision a world where no family has to worry about malaria – where every parent can raise healthy and happy children. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to end this disease for good. We can do it – one net, one life, one child at a time.

With Love,

Nia

Since making her film debut in John Singleton’s Oscar-nominated film, ‘Boyz n the Hood,’ Nia Long continues to cultivate a versatile resume in film and television. She is best known for her roles in the television series ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ and ‘Third Watch’ and the films ‘In Too Deep,’ ‘Friday,’ ‘Boiler Room,’ ‘Soul Food,’ ‘Love Jones,’ ‘Keanu,’ ‘The Best Man,’ ‘Big Momma’s House,’ and the sequels to the latter two films. A Brooklyn native, Long resides in Los Angeles with her two sons and husband Ime Udoka, an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs.

In addition to her film and television work, Long’s passion lies in supporting her community. With family roots in Trinidad, she aims to be a liaison between the youth in the United States and those on the island. Long is active in supporting women’s rights, education, and affordable healthcare. In November 2016, Long and her husband partnered with the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign to bring protective bed nets to regions affected by malaria.

You share, they give: Each time you ‘like’ or share this post via the social media icons on this post, watch this video or comment below, Johnson & Johnson will donate $1 (per social action), up to $500,000 divided equally between Shot@Life, UNFPA, Girl Up, UNICEF USA and Nothing But Nets. The Global Moms Relay was created by the United Nations Foundation and Johnson & Johnson with support from BabyCenter, Fatherly, Global Citizen, and Charity Miles to help improve the lives of families around the globe. Share this post with the hashtags #GlobalMoms and #JNJ, and visit GlobalMomsRelay.org to learn more.

You can also use the Donate A Photo* app and Johnson & Johnson will donate $1 up to $40,000 per cause when you upload a photo for Shot@Life, UNFPA, Girl Up, UNICEF USA or Nothing But Nets, to a maximum total of $200,000. You can help make a difference in seconds with the click of your mouse or snap of your smart phone.

* via the Donate A Photo app for iOS and Android. Johnson & Johnson has curated a list of trusted causes, and you can donate a photo to one cause, once a day. Each cause will appear in the app until it reaches its goal, or the donation period ends. If the goal isn’t reached, the cause will still get a minimum donation.