One of the highlights of the Pampers Mommy Blogger Event was meeting Caryl Stern, the CEO of UNICEF. Pampers and UNICEF have joined forces to eradicate tetanus through their Tetanus Vaccine Initiative. When we spoke with her, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
I’ll admit, before this event, I didn’t fully grasp its significance. Many of us get vaccinated routinely, so tetanus is often not on our minds. However, after seeing the plight of these vulnerable babies, it’s impossible not to feel a deep compassion for them.
Some basic tetanus facts and statistics:
- Tetanus spores can be found in soil and animal waste and can even be airborne.
- Tetanus operates by producing a toxin that affects your nervous system.
- This disease swiftly affects newborns within days of their exposure to the bacteria.
- Tetanus claims the lives of 140,000 newborns and 30,000 mothers annually.
- The mortality rate ranges from 70% to 100%.
- Symptoms of tetanus include muscle stiffness, painful spasms, difficulty swallowing, and seizures triggered by light or touch.
While here in the US, we have modern medical care not everyone is as lucky. In Africa, there is no access to hand sanitation before childbirth. The umbilical cord is cut with sharpened sugar cane, and wounds are packed with dirt. This poses a significant concern because tetanus thrives in the same dirt used to staunch bleeding.
Here’s the astounding part: each tetanus vaccine costs just 5 cents. Yes, you heard that right—just 5 cents. I mean, I’ve got that sitting in between my couch cushions!
If you’re feeling as helpless as I was, here are a few actions you can take to contribute to the eradication of this devastating disease.
- Purchase specially marked Pampers (see image above). You’re already buying diapers—now you can help another child while keeping yours dry.
- Gather your spare change and donate. If one tetanus vaccine costs just a nickel, imagine how many vaccines you could provide with the change lying around your house and car.
- Blog about this. It’s crucial to raise awareness. The more of us who share this on our blogs, the more people will know, the more donations will come in, and the more children we can save.
- Raise awareness to this issue with the people you know in real life.
- Involve your kids in giving back. At home, we’re pooling our spare change to make a donation in my kids’ names. It’s never too early to teach them about charity, especially when it supports children in need.
In conclusion, Pampers has made a tremendous impact through their campaign, sponsoring 45 million vaccines to date. Their commitment to saving lives is exemplified by their generous gesture of providing 1,000 vaccinations in my name, as well as 1,000 vaccinations for each of the 15 bloggers who attended the event. This initiative not only underscores the power of collective action but also reaffirms the importance of raising awareness and taking meaningful steps towards eliminating tetanus worldwide. Together, we can continue to make a difference and ensure a healthier future for children everywhere.
Let´s help the Unicef to do this important mission.
Edvanderson (Brasil)
I love the idea of buying Pampers and this money goes to the charity, it is a simular concept to the company that sells water and if you buy 1 litre of water, they donate 10 litres to a country that needs it. I will definitely tell the people, who buy nappies about this, as personally I do not have children.
Great post and work. Children are our future and we need guarantee them one – action is the best strategy, thanks again.
Oh my gosh, this is terrible. This breaks my heart. Those poor babies. I had no idea this is the procedure when you have a baby in Africa. I'm shocked. I buy pampers products and I will continue to do so.
OMG! Okay I did NOT have the nerve to watch the video, I just couldn't… chicken yes, but after reading your words that was enough. OMG again.
I'm clicking your donate button next.
Hi Lisa! Yeah, the Donate button did load just fine on my latest visit. While I could not donate the minimum amount (which isn't really minimum I understand that), I did elect to give what I can at the moment. My amount is based on the fact that two Friday's ago my husband was laid off. But this is important and… you can't take it with you!
How sad this is. Very nice post to get the word out there and let people see just whats going on.
Africa is one of those countries that's wonderfully blessed and horribly cursed. Blessed because of the incredible quantity of resources and natural wonders, cursed from all the interesting diseases and bloodthirsty rulers.
They certainly need the Tetanus vaccines, and others, and so many other things. Then there's the need to get this aid past the government entities and get it to the people. It's really an agonizing situation.
Getting the word out is a good first step.
OH, I didn't know…. How sad 🙁
In response to your comment:
I will try to take some pictures!
Mahalo for posting this and getting the message out, Lisa. Babies should not be suffering from preventable diseases!
This is a terrible these people need to be educated about germs and virus in dirt. I can't believe that they pack open wounds with dirt. They must be made aware
Hello there! I found this post highly interesting. Anyways, I would like for you to send me that html code so that I may place it onto my website. My blog contains a free novel that I wrote in order to promote my mission of saving Uganda, Africa. http://fateiscallingyou.blogspot.com is the website and I hope to hear from you soon.
Great post and work. Children are our future and we need guarantee them one – action is the best strategy, thanks again.
Certainly 😉 Thanks Lisa.
You are almost left wondering – how can this possibly be happening in the world we live in?! Then you begin to understand why it's called the Third World. 🙁
I can't see your widget for some reason, as I am feeling rather inclined to donate. 😕
Packing open wounds with dirt… shocking, just shocking. But then what else can they do?
It is a tad slow loading, but it is there. It is such a great cause. It just amazes me that for so little, many lives can be saved.
I never knew about tetanus and will probably do more research on it after this blog just to understand it, I'm curious like that, but it's horrible to read about this. I can't watch the video at my current location but my aunt already buys pampers and to help I'll make sure she gets the specially marked labels. && we have a whole carton of change so I'll get my family into donating that.
I'll readily admit I'm voluntarily not watching the video… because I *know* it will make me cry, simply from what you've described. Anything with babies/children or animals being harmed in anyway does that to me without fail. 🙁
As I don't have children of my own, buying diapers to help this cause won't happen – so I will definitely look into donating. At five cents per vaccination, every dollar helps!
All credit to you for posting about such a worthy cause and I hope that it is a successful campaign.
Hi Lisa,
This is one more thing that so many people around the world just are not aware of. In third world countries, so many things that we tend to take for granted are out of reach for most of the population.
Donations are on the way.
That's a terrible situation, thanks for posting. I don't have kids but will look into donating.
It is amazing how much such a small amount of money can do.
I wish I could help everyone out, but there are some things in the US that I would like to see happen first, before I donate money to other countries.
Thanks for this spotlight on the situation in Africa. Never mind the propaganda by the greedy leaders. They only show their cosy GOVERNMENT RESERVE AREA. This is what many Africans face on day to day basis. Thanks.
Great cause. Not many people would know about this
I know I didn't until I went to the Pampers get together.
Wow, very informative. Good luck with the campaign.
Sarah
Wow, its amazing how blessed we in America are compared to so many. Great sight, good luck.
Sarah
Being in the field of professional holistic medicine, you can understand why many vaccinations give me pause before I allow them for my children. Tetanus is NOT one of them. I have made damn sure that all 4 of my kids, my husband, and myself are fully up-to-date at all times. This is a horrible disease and we, in fact, live in a rural area. Rural meaning lots of wire fences and plenty of horses (who are a vector). It is critical that all children born on this planet have access to these life-saving vaccines and I applaud your efforts to spread the word.
Useful information and yes, it is indeed a horrible disease. It's sad that we aren't really aware of this at all because most of us have been vaccinated..Good read.
😛 I buy Pampers for my daughter. I support UNICEF!
Thanks for the great information and the passion you exude for the cause. Please send me the code for the widget.
A truly noble cause! And an excellent post bringing this horrible situation to light!
Thank you for the well presented information. I did not realize how serious tetanus was and to find out how far a minimal donation will go in the support of this cause. I will be heading to the donate button now.
Back again to check on your progress, hope you're raising not only tons of awareness but also tons of money. Even tiny amounts mean lots of vaccine! I'm really glad I donated 🙂
It is amazing how much such a small amount of money can do. It s great idea.