On November 21, 2006, NetsforLife malaria prevention program in Africa was formally launched at the House of Lords. An elegant reception was hosted by Standard Chartered Bank, a major sponsor of the NetsforLife program. The event was in the River Room of the House of Lords in London. As a major sponsor from the inception of the malaria program, Standard Chartered Bank was pleased to assemble prominent figures in the political world, diplomatic guests and friends actively committed to the fight against malaria. 

Featured speakers included Richard Meddings Finance Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Baroness Valerie Amos, Leader of the House of Lords, and Baroness Helene Hayman, Speaker of the House of Lords, who gave passionate remarks in support of malaria prevention worldwide.  Baroness Linda Chalker, former Conservative Secretary of State for International Development, and Stephen  O’Brien, Shadow Minister for Health and Chair of the All Parliamentary Party on Malaria, were also in attendance.  Everyone was enthusiastic in their support of the NetsforLife program. Mike Hart, the recently appointed Managing Director for Africa at Standard Chartered Bank, described the need for malaria prevention in very rural communities from his first hand experience in Kenya.

Dr. Robert Radtke, President of Episcopal Relief and Development, closed the evening acknowledging the generous support of NetsforLife sponsors like Standard Chartered Bank and Exxon Mobil.  Dr. Radtke told a moving story of a young boy in Zambia who returned home from school to discover that his baby sister had died from malaria. He was sent to fetch the local priest as the nearest person who could help the family in their time of grief.  This story  demonstrated the importance of delivering critical training and long-lasting insecticide-treated nets throughout affected communities in Africa and lauding the existing Anglican Church one of the most efficient and effective networks in the fight to prevent malaria.