“Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria,” read one of the many signs lining the path across the Arts Quad. A bed net, used to prevent mosquito bites, hung from a nearby tree. And a conspicuous white tent was erected close by.

All these were put up by Cover Africa for the group’s 28-hour sleep-out on the Arts Quad. The socially conscious sleepover, the fourth since its inception in Dec. 2006, aims to raise both funds for and awareness about the malaria epidemic in Africa.

“The sleep-out is symbolic because malaria spreads at night — when people are sleeping,” said Ojus Patil ’11, treasurer of Cover Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 350 to 500 million cases of malaria worldwide annually. The mosquito-borne disease also kills over one million people every year, with 90 percent of deaths occurring in Africa, according to Malaria No More, a campaign for malaria prevention.

“So few people think about malaria today because it is largely eradicated in wealthier nations,” Patil said.

While malaria was eradicated from the United States over 50 years ago, more than 40 percent of the world’s population remains at risk. In particular, African nations struggle the most with the epidemic. Not only does the disease have an impact on the continent’s health, but it also takes a toll on its economy: Malaria costs Africa $12 billion annually in lost productivity, according to Malaria No More.

The sleep-out last spring generated about $2,200 in donations.

Cover Africa will likely divide the funds it raises this year between purchasing bed nets and financing its service trips to Ghana, in which members distribute the nets, according to Kristen Welch ’10, president of the group.

From production to transportation, a bed net costs approximately $10. Welch has also applied for a Community Program Board grant to purchase bed nets. If the grant is approved, all funds from this week’s sleep-out will be used for airfare, visas and other travel necessities for the Ghana trip in the winter this year.

Cover Africa has brought 300 and 200 bed nets to Hujimbre, Ghana in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Patil explained that on a typical trip, members spray the bed nets with powerful insecticide, distribute them and teach Ghanaian recipients on their proper usage.

Insecticide-treated bed nets serve as physical barriers between sleeping Africans and the Anopheles mosquitoes capable of transmitting malaria. Furthermore, the insecticide kills mosquitoes when they come in contact with the net.

800,000 African children under the age of five die from malaria each year, according to BBC News. Because of the prevalence of malaria among youth, Cover Africa prioritizes children and pregnant women first in its distribution.

“What pulls at my heart strings is that malaria is preventable and treatable,” Welch said.

The medical community is currently grappling with possible malaria cures. Prof. Laura C. Harrington, entomology, told The Salubrion, a Cornell health journal, about the ideal but difficult prospect of developing a vaccine. The parasite from which malaria is derived has a wide variety of complex target proteins. It has, therefore, developed resistance to anti-malarial drugs.

“Sadly, we may not see a cure for malaria in our lifetime,” Harrington said.

Welch explained that this week’s event is essentially geared toward raising awareness about preventive measures and gaining visibility for the club. From the students eager to share information to those selling “Buzz Kill” fundraising shirts, Cover Africa hopes students will take note of the gravity of the issue, even though it seems far from campus.

John Lee ’10, director of service learning of Cover Africa and leader of the upcoming trip, also described the sleep-out as an advocacy event.

He estimated that about 400 to 500 students will stop by the signature tent. Whereas around 30 students chose to sleep out in April, Welch expected that 50 would brave the 49-degree evening this time.

“We want to make a difference — especially [because we are] college-age students who feel young and active. The sleep-out is a demonstration of our passion,” Patil said. “The Ithaca community has been very supportive.”