Nia Long and her son, Massai, are all about charity. The celebrity mom and her teen recently traveled to Tanzania to learn about the non-profit, Nothing But Nets.
“We’ve arrived in Tanzania,” Nia exclaimed. “My son Massai and I are here with @nothingbutnetsofficial and the UNHCR @refugees team to learn about the impact of #malaria in the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp. I’m honored to be here to raise awareness of this deadly disease and how we can all be a part of the solution to end it for good.”
There are more than seven million known cases of malaria in Tanzania. In fact, nearly 30 percent of all outpatient attendances are due to the illness. Malaria is a severe fever caused by a protozoan parasite that wreaks havoc on a person’s red blood cells. The parasite is transmitted by mosquitos and centrally prevalent in tropic and subtropical regions.
Nothing But Nets works to spread awareness about the malaria epidemic in Tanzania. According to the organization’s website,
“Nothing But Nets is a global grassroots campaign to raise awareness, funds, and voices to fight malaria. In 2006, sports columnist Rick Reilly wrote a column in Sports Illustrated challenging each of his readers to donate at least $10 to send insecticide-treated bed nets to protect families from malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Since then, with the help of our partners and supporters, we have raised over $60 million to help deliver 10 million bed nets to families in need, along with other crucial malaria interventions like diagnostics, treatment, and training of healthcare workers.”
Learn more about the charity here. Nia Long is the proud mother of two sons. Massai turns 17-years-old in November.
