Celebrating its 10th year, the Pampers UNICEF campaign calls for parents to join together to help eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus.
To date parents across Ireland have donated more than 21 million vaccines as part of this initiative
Dublin, Ireland 30th September 2015: Today, Pampers® and UNICEF mark the 10th anniversary of their longstanding partnership by announcing the elimination of maternal and newborn tetanus (MNT) in 17 countries.1
To launch the 10th anniversary campaign, celebrity mum, Emma Bunton joined Pampers and UNICEF at a global summit in New York, to celebrate the progress and successes of the campaign, at the very place the partnership began a decade ago. The visit also included Emma attending the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, where former President Bill Clinton celebrated the successes of the partnership in his speech.
Attending the events in New York marked Emma’s personal support of the continued commitment of Pampers and UNICEF in the fight to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus (MNT) around the world.
Emma Bunton, said: “I feel honoured to be supporting this campaign for a third year. Joining the people who have been instrumental in the success of this partnership at the very place it began ten years ago has been an unforgettable experience. Over the last 10 years this programme has helped save the lives of 500,000 mothers and their newborns around the world; something I believe is an incredible achievement and something that parents around Ireland should feel proud to have contributed to.
However, the work isn’t over – something I was reminded of when I visited Madagascar last year to see the impact that Pampers’ funding has had on the lives of mums and babies who have benefitted from the maternal and newborn tetanus vaccination programme. Whilst great progress has been made, there are still babies in 21 countries around the world at risk from maternal and newborn tetanus.
From my many visits to Ireland with both The Spice Girls and my Mum to visit our family in Co. Wexford, I know how generous and compassionate Irish people are. It’s great to see how the efforts of parents in Ireland have helped parents in some of the world’s poorest countries with the campaign having donated over 21,000,000 million vaccines over the past nine years.
Together we can support UNICEF to help more parents make sure their babies get a healthy start by protecting them against Maternal and Newborn Tetanus (MNT). It’s so easy to get involved and support, simply purchase packs of Pampers with the UNICEF logo or engage with campaign content online, parents across Ireland can make a genuine difference and continue to support our wish to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus everywhere. There are still babies in 21 of the world’s poorest countries at risk from this fatal but preventable disease.”
Maternal and newborn tetanus affects families in some of the poorest areas of the world and it occurs when newborns are infected as a direct result of unhygienic birthing practices, such as cutting the umbilical cord with un-sterile instruments. Once newborn tetanus has been contracted there is no real cure and it still claims the lives of 49,000 newborns every year, which is equivalent to one baby’s life every 11 minutes.
For 10 years the Pampers® and UNICEF partnership has had only one wish: to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus everywhere. Thanks to the support of parents, since the Pampers-UNICEF “1 pack = 1 vaccine” campaign began, an estimated 500,000 newborn babies have been saved and a vaccine has reached a mother and her baby every second.
Peter Power, Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland says: “In the past 10 years the support of Pampers® and parents across Ireland has had a significant impact in helping UNICEF to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus in 17 countries. In that time the number of mums and babies at risk has been reduced by nearly 60% but the fact remains, there are still 71 million women and their babies in some of the hardest to reach areas of the poorest countries who are still at risk. The sad truth is that maternal and newborn tetanus is easily preventable with a vaccine which is why it is so important that together with Pampers, we can continue in our joint efforts to eliminate the disease everywhere.”
Since the Pampers UNICEF partnership began in 2006, Pampers funding has already helped to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus in 17 countries. However there are still 21 countries where the disease remains a threat. Through the continuation of their simple “1 pack = 1 life-saving vaccine” campaign, Pampers® funding is supporting vaccination activities in 20 of these countries and UNICEF’s work with the many partners involved in the elimination effort. This effort involves working with governments, and partnering with organisations working on the ground to expand access to this life saving vaccine.
How can we help?
The Pampers-UNICEF “1 pack = 1 life-saving vaccine*” campaign starts today and parents can show their support in a number of easy ways:
- 1 pack = 1 life-saving vaccine: For each Pampers pack with the UNICEF logo purchased or Active Fit or Baby-Dry Pants pack purchased between October 1st and December 31st, Pampers will donate the equivalent of one vaccine.
- 1 share or 1 view = 1 life-saving vaccine: For each view or share of Pampers®’ special ‘wishes’ film, Pampers® will donate the equivalent cost of one vaccine
- UNICEF Pledge Donations: By becoming a monthly donor to UNICEF today you can join thousands of other parents who donate every month to improve the lives of these vulnerable children
Join us in our 10th anniversary wish and together, Pampers® and UNICEF can help protect the world’s babies against newborn tetanus. www.Pampers.ie or www.unicef.ie
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For further information, photography and interview requests please contact Fleishman Hillard:
Sandra Morris: Sandra.morris@fleishmaneurope.com / 01 618 8429 / 0868474644
Clare Herbert: clare@unicef.ie / 01 878 3000 / 0879421281
Editor’s Notes:
About Procter & Gamble:
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II® and Vicks®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.
About UNICEF:
UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting 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 about our work, please visit unicef.ie
Donations:
“1 Pack = 1 Life-Saving Vaccine”
For each Pampers pack with the UNICEF logo purchased or Active Fit or Baby-Dry Pants pack purchased between October 1st and December 31st, Procter & Gamble supports UNICEF in the fight against newborn tetanus with 4.4p/€0.056. This amount equals for example the cost of one tetanus vaccine or supports its delivery. UNICEF does not endorse any brand or product. More information under www.pampers.ie or www.unicef.org
“1 view/share = 1 Life-Saving Vaccine”
For each video viewed or shared, Procter & Gamble supports UNICEF in the fight against newborn tetanus with 4.4p/€0.056. This amount equals for example the costs of one tetanus vaccine or supports its delivery. For example, just two vaccinations will protect mother and child against tetanus during delivery and at birth. Mothers will be protected against tetanus for at least the next 3 years and newborns for first 2 months of life. UNICEF does not endorse any brand or product. More information under www.pampers.ie or www.unicef.org
UNICEF Pledge Donations
All parents want their children to be secure, well nourished, educated and healthy. Through your support, you’re helping children that need it most, but there are many more who are vulnerable and urgently in need. By becoming a monthly donor to UNICEF today you can join thousands of other parents who donate every month to improve the lives of these vulnerable children. Visit www.supportunicef.org/Pampersto see the difference that you can make
