His Nets

CBF Oklahoma Coordinator T Thomas and his daughters Andi and Whitni are spearheading an effort to reduce malaria in Africa. They have created a non-profit organization that distributes insecticide treated mosquito nets to families in sub-Saharan Africa.

Many readers may have seen the His Nets booth at the recent CBF General Assembly.

Oklahoma Journalist Melissa Wabnitz wrote the first news story about His Nets. It was published in last Friday's Norman Transcript. Here's an excerpt from the story about the mission of His Nets:

"It was so simple. The nets are the way to prevent the spread of the disease, but so few people in the areas of need can afford them," Thomas said. "Ninety percent of the people in sub-Saharan Africa live on $1 a day or less and the nets cost $10 There's just no way people can afford them. "

"The goal was simple - put the nets guaranteed to be effective in repelling and killing mosquitoes for five years in the hands of those who need them. Working with the Baptist World Alliance, the local ministry of health and local churches, Thomas and his family set about fundraising to bring nets, and education on how to prevent malaria, to the pregnant women and children most susceptible to the disease."

"This is so easy and so exciting, providing nets to people who are hurting and in need of them," said T. Thomas.

"It is a concrete way to say, 'God loves you and so do we.'"

Earlier this month, Thomas and Andi [correction: Whitni] boarded a plane and began what they hope will become an annual event, distributing 1,800 nets to hospitals, birthing clinics and village families in south-central Ghana. For the next several weeks, Africans from neighboring areas will check on those who received the nets to ensure they are being used properly and that the education sessions about malaria were effective.

"We got to some of the places around 3 p.m. and some of the ladies had been waiting since 6 a.m. that morning," Thomas said. "They wanted the nets - they really wanted the nets."