Abstract
Donations to cost-effective charities can save lives, though the cost to save a life may be higher than expected due to the complex dynamics of delivering aid. A 2024 GiveWell estimate suggests that a $3,000 donation could save one life in Nigeria by funding seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) through Malaria Consortium. This estimate considers the cost per monthly treatment cycle ($1.37), the duration of treatment cycles (4-5 months), the average number of cycles per child (4.4), baseline child malaria mortality, the proportion of malaria deaths occurring during high-transmission season (70%), the estimated effectiveness of SMC (46% reduction in deaths), and the estimated “fungibility” of donations, which can influence other funders and shift aid allocation. Additional benefits not factored into the cost-effectiveness analysis include potential long-term income increases for children protected from malaria, averted non-fatal malaria infections, and averted medical costs. – AI-generated abstract.
