Mullets: A Force for Good in the Fight Against Malaria

What do mullets and mosquitoes have in common? 

They're bold. They can be distracting. They can be prolific in the southern part of the US.

At the University of Notre Dame, mullets are also a force for good to fight the world’s deadliest mosquito-borne disease: malaria.  Since 2013, the “Gentlemen of St. Edward’s Hall” have participated in the Mullets Against Malaria campaign, cutting their hair into mullets all in the name of raising awareness AND funds for this preventable yet deadly disease. Incredibly, this annual fundraiser has raised nearly $100,000 for the United to Beat Malaria (formerly Nothing But Nets) campaign to provide critical malaria interventions for families around the world. 

Malaria is one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases that still plagues about 50% of the world’s population.  According to the 2022 World Malaria Report, approximately 619,000 people died from malaria in 2021, with about 75% of those deaths being children under 5.

But there is good news – since 2000, deaths from malaria are down 31%, an estimated 2 BILLION cases have been prevented, and 25 countries have eliminated the disease.  There are several reasons for this, including improved awareness, monitoring, and detection and vector control innovations from companies like Envu, BASF, and Syngenta.

While there is reason for optimism, the mosquito remains a persistent and stubborn foe.  Mosquitoes continue to evolve - as does the malaria parasite - and the emergence of Anopheles Stephensi, a new malaria vector, threatens to spread the disease in urban environments.

The fight against malaria is a fight of both hard-won progress and recognition that there are still significant challenges yet to be solved.  Both sides of the messaging spectrum are key to the points that will be highlighted on World Malaria Day, April 25.

World Malaria Day is a global moment to rally support for the fight against malaria through messaging, fundraising, and advocacy.  This day is also a great time for PCOs to join the fight and amplify your work as protectors of public health.

Although malaria is serious, how we fight it doesn’t have to be, as the mullets example clearly illustrates.  Raising awareness and funds for the fight against malaria can be creative, fun, and engaging and World Malaria Day (or the month of April) are great moments to create new momentum to end this ancient disease.

Just a few examples of what you could do:

• Make a donation for each share of a World Malaria Day themed post.
• Collect change from customers and employees.
• Make a donation for each mile your technicians walk during the week of World Malaria Day.
• Spread the word. We’ll have a messaging toolkit in early April with template social media posts you can share with your customers and community.

Got a better idea?  Let’s make it happen to help protect families, save lives, and advance the fight against malaria.  If complementing and advancing your work as protectors of public health wasn’t enough, United to Beat Malaria will highlight the most creative World Malaria Day campaign by a PCO on our social media channels. 

Visit beatmalaria.org to learn more or contact Jonathan Kidwell at jkidwell@unfoundation.org.