NEW YORK, 28 September 2015 - An estimated 500,000 newborn lives have been saved and 100 million women and their newborns protected from the deadly disease, maternal and newborn tetanus, thanks to a ten-year long partnership between Pampers® and UNICEF that helped achieve this milestone.
The partners marked the tenth anniversary of their work today by celebrating the contributions of their joint effort that has helped in the elimination of maternal and newborn tetanus in 17 countries, with the success of the ‘1 Pack = 1 Vaccine’ initiative.
Celebrity mother, UNICEF Ambassador and long-standing spokesperson for the 1 Pack = 1 Vaccine campaign, Emma Bunton, united with Pampers and UNICEF during a global summit in New York to celebrate the progress for mothers and babies as a result of the partnership. At the event, Emma reflected on the decade-long initiative and invited everyone to mark the 10th anniversary by resolving to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus entirely.
“Working with the people who have been instrumental in the success of this partnership, and meeting some of the mothers and babies who have enjoyed better, healthier lives as a result of the initiative has been an unforgettable experience”, said Emma Bunton. “I visited Madagascar to see the impact that Pampers’ funding has had on the lives of people and hearing their stories helped me see that with the support mums at home, we can stop this heart-breaking disease in more countries.”
“I am so proud that the 1 Pack = 1 Vaccine campaign has had a role in this progress, and I invite everyone who engaged in the campaign to stop, take one small minute and reflect on those mothers and children who are alive today, thanks to a simple vaccine. And let’s resolve, all of us, to keep up the good work,” she added.
The 1 Pack = 1 Vaccine campaign has combined two components that are essential to defeating a disease like maternal and newborn tetanus: Raising funds, and raising profile.
“The partnership between Pampers and UNICEF has resulted in much greater awareness of maternal and newborn tetanus and made a genuine difference in the lives of millions,” said Yoka Brandt, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “It will take even more commitment and investment, but we can and must accelerate elimination efforts in the remaining 21 countries where the key challenge remains universal access to life saving interventions, including maternal and newborn tetanus vaccines.”
The event also saw an informative panel-discussion between the organisations, led by Dr Holly Phillips, CBS Medical News Contributor where representatives talked about the importance of support from around the world, through the campaign that has enabled one mother to support another.
In addition, Pampers and UNICEF unveiled a powerful video to showcase the impact of the campaign through 10 milestone moments; DOWNLOAD HERE: http://we.tl/YVAVXo2iGK
Although much has already been achieved, there is more work to be done, as maternal and newborn tetanus still threatens the lives of 71 million women and their newborns.
“Thanks to the collective power of UNICEF, Pampers and mums around the world, this funding has already helped to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus in 17 countries, which is incredible”, says Sirma Umur, Pampers VP babycare E-IMEA. “However we are not stopping there, we continue to partner with UNICEF to help protect the world’s babies against this deadly disease and invite everyone to join us in our 10th anniversary wish to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus entirely.”
Notes to editors:
Tetanus is caused by bacteria that live in soil. Newborns are often infected as a result of unhygienic birth practices, such as cutting the umbilical cord with un-sterile instruments or handling it with dirty hands. Once contracted, there is no real cure. Nearly all babies who contract tetanus die, unless they receive treatment.
The true extent of the maternal and newborn tetanus death toll is not fully known, since the population at the highest risk of contracting the disease tends to live in rural areas with little or no access to health care services or education.
Maternal and neonatal tetanus can be prevented through a simple vaccination given to pregnant women and women of a child-bearing age, to protect both the woman and her unborn child during this vulnerable period. Following administration of the tetanus vaccine to a pregnant mother, the antibodies pass across the placenta to her foetus.
World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF recommend three appropriately spaced doses of the tetanus vaccine in order to ensure long-lasting immunity. After two doses, a woman who is vaccinated before she gives birth will be protected against the disease for three years.
After three doses she will be protected for five years, and in both cases, will share her protection with her baby for the first two months of life
Since the Pampers-UNICEF partnership began in 2006, Pampers funding has already helped to eliminate MNT in 17 countries:
◾Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Lao PDR, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Myanmar, Senegal, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Uganda
Pampers funding is also supporting vaccination activities in a further 20 countries
◾Afghanistan, Angola, CAR, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Guinea Conakry, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Sudan, Republic of South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen
About Pampers®
Pampers® cares for the development of every baby around the world and continuously works in partnerships with NGOs, charity organizations, hospitals and healthcare professionals to help make a difference. Some of the many initiatives which demonstrate Pampers® 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. Visit for more information: www.Pampers.co.uk/UNICEF
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org/
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For more information, please contact: Kate Donovan, UNICEF New York, + 1 917 378 2128, kdonovan@unicef.org