Actress and Mom Salma Hayek Travels to Africa to Witness Firsthand the Devastating Effects of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus
Pampers(R), the world's leading diaper brand, today announced the second
wave of its North America "One Pack = One Vaccine" campaign to benefit
UNICEF. The campaign assists UNICEF in fighting Maternal and Neonatal
Tetanus (MNT) by generating funding to aid UNICEF in their mission of
providing life-saving vaccines to help protect pregnant women and women
of child-bearing age in developing countries against this deadly disease.
At a press conference today in New York, Pampers was joined by actress,
mother and "One Pack = One Vaccine" international spokesperson, Salma
Hayek, to announce the continued success of the North American campaign,
which provided funding for more than 45 million tetanus vaccines in
2008, and aims to raise funds for an additional 30 million tetanus
vaccines this year. According to UNICEF estimates, 386 million vaccines
are needed to wipe out tetanus in the 46 countries that have yet to
eliminate the disease, and Pampers' global goal over the next three
years is to provide funding for more than half of the needed tetanus
vaccines (200 million).
By purchasing specially-marked packs of Pampers diapers and Pampers
wipes now through May 1, 2009, consumers in the United States and Canada
automatically trigger a donation by Pampers to fund one tetanus
vaccine(1) to help UNICEF protect a pregnant woman, or woman of
child-bearing age, in the developing world against the disease. Funds
raised from the "One Pack = One Vaccine" campaign will support UNICEF's
efforts to eliminate MNT, a preventable disease that claims the lives of
approximately 128,000 infants and up to 30,000 mothers in less
industrialized nations each year -- that's approximately one newborn
death every four minutes.
In developing countries where women often give birth at home in
sometimes unsanitary conditions, they and their newborn babies are at
risk of contracting tetanus -- tetanus spores can pass through the
umbilical cord when cut, infecting both mother and baby. The disease
rages through newborns within days of exposure to the bacteria and
almost always leads to a quick and painful death. However, tetanus is
preventable with a series of low-cost tetanus vaccines.
As global spokesperson for the "One Pack = One Vaccine" campaign, Salma
Hayek traveled to the African nation of Sierra Leone with UNICEF and
Pampers to witness firsthand the impact of the effects of MNT. During
her trip, Hayek met with local UNICEF representatives to discuss the
impact of the campaign, visiting health clinics and traveling to a rural
village to observe women receiving tetanus vaccines. With the support of
partners like Pampers, Sierra Leone has made great progress in the fight
against MNT, and is currently one of the countries targeted to achieve
tetanus elimination by the end of 2009.
"When I traveled to Sierra Leone, I was faced with the devastation of
tetanus," said Hayek. "Witnessing the death of a newborn was unbearable.
No mother should have to endure the loss of a child. No one should die
of tetanus when prevention is so easy. With the purchase of
specially-marked packages of Pampers diapers and wipes, we can help make
a difference in saving lives. I witnessed, firsthand, how Pampers and
UNICEF are working together to eliminate tetanus."
The Pampers "One Pack = One Vaccine" campaign is part of a multi-year,
multi-million dollar commitment to UNICEF to help eliminate tetanus.
While the North American campaign has exceeded expectations by raising
funds for more than 45 million tetanus vaccines last year, the global
campaign is anticipated to raise funds for 200 million additional
tetanus vaccines over the next three years. The Pampers donation will be
directed by UNICEF to any or all of the 46 remaining countries yet to
eliminate Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus -- wherever the need is the
greatest and the funding will have the most significant impact.
"Just a decade ago, MNT was a major public health problem in 58
countries, and since then 12 countries have eliminated the disease,"
said Caryl Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
"Partnerships with organizations such as Pampers have helped us see the
number of tetanus-related deaths drop significantly. But there is still
major work to be done to achieve our goal of zero mothers and babies
dying of this horrific disease, which is so easily preventable. We are
grateful that Pampers has chosen to partner with us again and are
thankful for the efforts of Salma Hayek and her dedication to this
important cause."
This year, consumers can show their support of the campaign in two ways
-- purchasing specially-marked Pampers "One Pack = One Vaccine" products
(participating lines include: Swaddlers and Swaddlers Sensitive diapers,
Baby Dry and Cruisers diapers, Easy Ups training pants and all wipes),
and redemption of Pampers Gifts to Grow points for a special campaign
baby body suit. Parents can log onto the Pampers Gifts to Grow site at
Pampers.com and for 10 points, a "Together we can help save a life" body
suit will be shipped free of charge and also will trigger a donation(2)
to fund additional tetanus vaccines through the "One Pack = One Vaccine"
campaign.
"At Pampers, we are 100 percent committed to the health and well-being
of babies in absolutely every thing that we do," said Jodi Allen, North
American vice president and general manager for Pampers. "Not only are
we about creating the best products to support babies in their health
and development, but we are about making a difference in the lives of
mothers and babies around the world. We have incredible passion for the
Pampers 'One Pack = One Vaccine' campaign -- both as a company, but also
personally with many employees and parents that have embraced and
contributed to this campaign because it has touched their hearts and is
truly making a difference in saving the lives of mothers and their
babies."
In addition to affecting the employees of Pampers, the program has
reached various groups and individuals across the country. Broadway Kids
Care, an organization made up of Broadway child stars in New York City,
raised money through performance and bake sales for the cause. Across
the country in California, a teenager and her two younger sisters took
out their neighbors' trash to raise money to support the program. Last
but not least, Stroller Strides, the country's largest and
fastest-growing exercise program for new moms and their babies, has
adopted the "One Pack = One Vaccine" program as its umbrella cause for
2009.
For more information on the Pampers "One Pack = One Vaccine" program to
benefit UNICEF, visit www.Pampers.com/UNICEF
or www.unicefusa.org/pampers.
(1) For every specially marked pack of Pampers Diapers and Wipes
purchased in the U.S. and Canada, the Pampers brand will donate US$.07
to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help provide one tetanus vaccine to a
pregnant woman or a woman of child-bearing age in the less
industrialized world. UNICEF does not endorse any brand or product. No
portion of the purchase price is tax-deductible. Pampers' total donation
is anticipated to exceed $2 million.
This winter/spring campaign is part of Pampers' global, multi-year,
multi-million dollar commitment to UNICEF that is supported by Pampers
moms and dads, one pack at a time.
(2) For every Pampers baby body suit manufactured for the "One Pack =
One Vaccine" program, the Pampers brand will donate U.S.$.07 to the U.S.
Fund for UNICEF to help provide one tetanus vaccine to a pregnant woman
or a woman of child-bearing age in the less industrialized world.
About Pampers(R)
Pampers is a trademark of Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and the company's
largest global brand and is the world's top-selling diaper brand. Our
business is inspired by babies and toddlers, created by Pampers. For
more information on Pampers and the Pampers Parenting Institute, visit www.pampers.com.
About Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around
the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted,
quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R),
Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R),
Pringles(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R),
Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella,
Gillette(R), and Braun. The P&G community consists of over 135,000
employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit www.pg.com
for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
About UNICEF
For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world's leading
international children's organization, working in over 150 countries to
address the ongoing issues that affect why kids are dying. UNICEF
provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and
emergency response saving more young lives than any other humanitarian
organization in the world. While millions of children die every year of
preventable causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and
measles, UNICEF, with the support of partnering organizations and donors
alike, has the global experience, resources and reach to give children
the best hope of survival. For more information about UNICEF, please
visit www.unicefusa.org.