THE DIFFERENCE between a net that PROTECTS and one that stays FOLDED in the corner begins with better design.
Ease of use, comfort, and durability are essential for protection, night after night, year after year. OKnet is designed with over 15 improvements that overcome the barriers families face with the current hanging net.
THE RESULT: consistent use, reduced malaria transmission, fewer lives lost, and a dramatically lower cost per life saved.
360 view
Current Hanging Net
Easy
One-person setup: even a youngster
Self-erects: eliminates training
When unpacking, even 1st-time users clearly recognize the final shape
End panels self-open, poles self-connect and user just attaches the pole to the panels
Self-standing design allows for trouble-free repositioning
Difficult
Several adults are needed for setup
Requires expensive training
When unpacking, even trained users can't recognize the final shape
Complex assembly: users hammer nails into walls or ceiling, tie strings to the mesh fabric, attach them and adjust tension
Repositioning is difficult because of the installed nails and strings
Safe
Protected: stand-alone frame keeps mesh fabric tight and away from skin
Sealed: tensioned mesh fabric encloses and seals in users. Secures tightly to the mattress or pad
Two ergonomic full-length doors for easy entry and exit
Spring-assisted snap-shut doors keep mosquitoes out
Durable: flexible end panels provide structural integrity, spread tension to prevent mesh tears
Risky
Exposed: mosquitoes bite through when skin contacts the loose mesh fabric
Open: users must tuck loose mesh fabric under the mattress or pad, which is difficult from the inside
No doors: users lift tucked-under mesh to get in and out
No doors: lifting the mesh fabric lets mosquitoes in
Fragile: structural failure occurs when user movements snap a string or tear the mesh fabric
Simple
Self-standing and only 2 lbs. so you can pick up and move anywhere
Stronger design keeps working despite wear and tear
Quick, 1-person disassembly: Remove and fold the pole, stack the end panels
Easy storage: stacks in a flat 2-inch disk and fits almost anywhere
In the field: anchors securely with no extra parts
Impractical
Cannot be moved once installed, since it’s tied to walls by strings
Unusable if any string or the mesh fabric is damaged
Complex disassembly: Unhook multiple strings, fold the mesh fabric and try to pack it
If not disassembled, it occupies space most homes cannot spare
In the field: unstable even with additional supports
Economical
Design can't be adapted beyond its intended use
Cuts mesh fabric use in half, saving cost and bulk
Today, billions of dollars are spent fighting malaria. Improving how nets perform is just as important as increasing the amount of funding itself.
The value of a net depends on how many nights it protects the family beneath it. By reducing barriers to consistent use, OKnet delivers more protection from every net — making every malaria-prevention dollar go further.
Our goal is simple: save more lives without increasing cost.
* GiveWell estimates that approximately $4,500 in donations are required to save one life through large-scale insecticide-treated bednet programs. This figure reflects real-world conditions with old-style hanging nets.
Better design allows existing malaria prevention investments to make every donor dollar go further.
