PROJECT #54

Our partnership with BusinessKind

One of the leading causes of death in children under five in Myanmar is Malaria. Malaria is highly endemic in the remote rural villages of Northern Myanmar, it kills pregnant women and infants, cripples child development and paralyzes poverty reduction programs. The incidence of malarial illnesses can be greatly reduced by awareness education and the effective use of insecticide treated bed nets.

Our partnership with BusinessKind set out to 1. decrease the mortality and morbidity of malaria in pregnant women and children in rural villages of Northern Myanmar by prevention education and the distribution of 1,000 custom designed insecticide treated bed nets, and 2.
increase meaningful employment opportunities for Myanmar women living with HIV/AIDS at the BusinessKind factory.

The 1,000 households that received free nets were some of poorest families in the community, but the larger goal is for the families to have a sense of ownership in the nets through a unique community design process. The nets that the women at BusinessKind made are designed with the community’s input, studies show that these nets are highly valued and more effectively used than standard free nets, and are more likely to be purchased when a second or replacement net is needed.