Anti-Tetanus Campaign by Pampers and Unicef
Pampers® and UNICEF launch a new campaign to protect mothers and their babies against tetanus.Pampers has joined forces with UNICEF to ensure that millions of vulnerable mothers and their babies are protected against maternal and neonatal tetanus. The joint campaign will provide up to six million vaccinations for those most in need around the world.
Every year maternal and neonatal tetanus kills more than 250,000 mothers and babies around the world. Most 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.
|
| |
| Article continues below advertisement |
|
| |
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 instruments 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.
Pampers has joined forces with UNICEF to help protect millions of vulnerable mothers and their babies against this killer disease. 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.
For each special UNICEF pack of Pampers nappies sold, Pampers will provide UNICEF with the funding for one tetanus vaccination. By choosing Pampers mums can help protect the world’s most vulnerable babies, and their mothers, with these life saving vaccinations.
UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working specifically for children but it relies entirely on voluntary donations. To make a donation to help Pampers and UNICEF reach more children around the world or for further information about the campaign please visit www.pampers.com or www.unicef.org/uk.
The special UNICEF packs of Pampers nappies will be available in supermarkets and pharmacies nationwide during November and December 2006.
November 2006 |
| |
| |
|
