Kiwanis International Pledges to Raise US$110 Million to Eliminate Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus
By Kiwanis International, PRNEWednesday, July 6, 2011
GENEVA, July 7, 2011 -
Kiwanis International is mobilizing its
members across the globe to provide a much needed push to eliminate
maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT). Tetanus is a painful disease
that kills one baby every nine minutes, or 160 newborns each
day.
Kiwanis International pledges to raise US$110 million by 2015
for the project, the largest single pledge for global MNT
elimination efforts. These funds will ultimately protect at least
61 million women and their future babies who are at risk of this
deadly disease. The fundraising campaign’s inauguration is taking
place during the 96th Annual Kiwanis International Convention in
Geneva, Switzerland this week.
“Our Kiwanis members around the world are ready to raise funds
to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus,” said Kiwanis
International President Sylvester Neal. “For US$1.80 we can protect
a mother and her future babies from this deadly but preventable
disease. We can only do this with the support of our 8,000 local
clubs, and with their help, we will eliminate MNT.”
The Eliminate
Project is a global campaign that will save thousands of lives
and protect millions of mothers and their future newborns. The
disease is typically contracted through unhygienic childbirth
practices. The goal of the project is to eliminate this swift,
painful and highly preventable disease by vaccinating women of
childbearing age, which will not only protect the mothers, but also
their future newborns.
“The vast network of dedicated Kiwanians will provide the funds
necessary for UNICEF and its partners to get tetanus vaccines to
millions of women,” said President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for
UNICEF Caryl Stern. “We are deeply honored by their commitment to
saving so many lives around the world.”
The funding supports UNICEF
and its partners that have already eliminated MNT in 20 countries.
With Kiwanis’ global volunteer network, along with UNICEF’s field
staff and technical expertise, The Eliminate Project will serve
those who live in 38 developing countries where MNT remains a
public health threat-and help eliminate this cruel, centuries-old
disease.
The Eliminate Project will do more than protect women and babies
from tetanus; it will also help create a path for other services,
such as clean water, nutrition and other vaccines, to reach some of
the world’s most vulnerable people who are not served because they
are poor, remote and, in some cases, invisible to the world.
In taking on this mission, Kiwanis joins a select group of
organizations and corporations, including P&G and BD, which
have made significant strides toward MNT elimination. For more
information about The Eliminate Project, please visit
About The Eliminate Project
The Kiwanis International global campaign for children, The
Eliminate Project, aims to save thousands of young lives and
protect millions of mothers and their future babies. In partnership
with UNICEF and other partners, Kiwanis is eliminating MNT by
vaccinating women of child-bearing age for tetanus, a disease that
kills one baby every nine minutes. UNICEF and its partners have
already eliminated MNT in 20 countries, and Kiwanis’ pledge to
raise US$110 million will help fund the elimination of the disease
in the 38 countries where tetanus remains a public health threat.
Kiwanis’ global volunteer network and strength in reaching
communities and leaders, along with UNICEF’s field staff, technical
expertise and unbeatable supply chain will help wipe out this
cruel, centuries-old disease and pave the way for other
interventions.
About Kiwanis
Founded in 1915, Kiwanis International is a global organization
of clubs and members dedicated to serving the children of the
world. Kiwanis and its family of clubs, including Circle K
International for university students, Key Club for students age
14-18, Builders Club for students age 11-14, Kiwanis Kids for
students age 6-12 and Aktion Club for adults living with
disabilities, dedicate annually more than 18 million service hours
to strengthen communities and serve children. The Kiwanis
International family comprises nearly 600,000 adult and youth
members in 80 countries and geographic areas. For more information
about Kiwanis International, please visit
About UNICEF
Working in more than 150 countries, UNICEF provides children
with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency
relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work
through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United
States.
UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality
worldwide. There has been substantial progress: the annual number
of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.1 million
in 2009. But still, 22,000 children die each day from preventable
causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number
zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy
childhood. For more information, visit
Jo Lynn Garing, Public Relations Manager, Kiwanis International, +1-317-508-6337 (mobile), jgaring at kiwanis.org; Susannah Masur, Public Relations Manager, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, +1-646-428-5010 (mobile), smasur at unicefusa.org; Larissa Schlotterbeck, Communications Specialist, UNICEF, +0041796973348 (mobile), lschlotterbeck at unicef.org
Tags: Geneva, July 7, Kiwanis International, Switzerland
