Every year, maternal and neonatal tetanus kills more than 250,000 mothers and babies around the world; this translates as one baby dying from tetanus every 3 minutes. Most of those affected live in remote areas in the poorest countries. It is commonly believed that tetanus was wiped out long ago, but in 57 countries around the world this deadly disease turns the joy of child birth into tragedy, taking the lives of newborn babies, and their mothers, in the first week after birth.
The true extent of the tetanus death toll is not known since the populations at the highest risk of contracting this disease tend to live in rural areas and have little access to health care facilities. Many newborns and their mothers die at home so neither the birth or death is registered. For this reason, neonatal tetanus is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’.
The disease is contracted by newborn babies through contamination of their umbilical stump with tetanus spores following the birth. This may be because an un-sterile instrument has been used to cut the cord or because in some developing countries it is common practice to rub animal dung into the newly cut cord.
Following administration of the tetanus vaccine to a pregnant mother, the antibodies pass across the placenta to her foetus. To protect her baby, a mother should receive at least two doses of tetanus vaccine at least four weeks apart, with the last dose at least two weeks before delivery. Maternal and neonatal tetanus can therefore be prevented through simple injections given during pregnancy, to protect both a mother and her unborn child during this vulnerable period.
Pampers cares for the development of every baby around the world and continuously works in partnership with NGOs, charity organisations and many, many hospitals and health professionals to help to make a difference. Some of the many initiatives which demonstrate their ongoing commitment to vulnerable and disadvantaged babies around the world include education programmes for mothers and mothers-to be, training schemes for physicians and nurses, and the donation of equipment for maternity wards and orphanages.
Thanks to the help of mums all over the UK, Pampers were able to provide UNICEF with the funding for over 7.4 million tetanus vaccinations in 2006, exceeding their target of 6 million vaccines. This October, November and December, Pampers will join forces with UNICEF for a second time, to help protect the lives of millions more vulnerable mothers and their babies. They are hoping to provide UNICEF with the funding for as many as 10 million vaccines this year, offering a ‘brighter tomorrow’ to those who may otherwise face a bleak outlook.
September 2007
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