NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UNICEF and Pampers celebrated yesterday their ground-breaking partnership to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus, a deadly but entirely preventable disease that claims the lives of 58,000 newborns every year.
At an event at UNICEF House, Pampers (P&G) and UNICEF, in partnership with Interbrand, reflected on an almost decade-long campaign that has helped provide 300 million doses of the tetanus vaccine to millions of women and their newborns and has contributed to eliminating the disease in 14 countries. The event also saw an informative panel-discussion between the organizations, hosted by CBS News Medical Contributor, Dr. Holly Phillips.
“The partnership between UNICEF and Pampers has resulted in much-needed attention to a disease that previously, was relatively unknown,” said Gérard Bocquenet, UNICEF’s new Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships. “Not only has that enabled us to help protect millions of women and their babies from a deadly disease, but it has also become a vital platform for UNICEF to secure new donors on a global scale.”
During the event’s proceedings, Pampers and UNICEF attributed much of the success of the partnership to the strategic fit between the mission, vision and brand equity of both partners: UNICEF’s mission to promote “survival, protection and development of children” with Pampers vision for “caring for the healthy, happy development of every baby.”
“Thanks to the collective power of UNICEF, Pampers and moms making everyday purchases, Pampers funding has already helped to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus in 14 countries by the simple but impactful ‘1 pack = 1 vaccine’ mechanic,” said Matthew Price, Vice President of Babycare at P&G.
In addition to sharing their roadmap for success, Pampers and UNICEF unveiled a series of short videos shot on a recent trip to Indonesia to showcase the high-impact of the campaign and promote the mutually beneficial nature of the successful partnership.
The videos can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PMGut4gEZo.
“Visiting Indonesia with the team from Pampers and UNICEF was a humbling experience,” said Andrea Sullivan, Chief Marketing Officer at Interbrand. “The Pampers-UNICEF case really is a true example of how one of the world’s largest non-profits and its multinational counterpart designed and implemented a global partnership to transform funding for, and drive awareness of, a social cause with unprecedented results.”
Although great success has already been achieved through the partnership, maternal and neonatal tetanus still threatens the lives of 100 million women and their newborn babies in 25 countries across the globe, especially the poorest and most vulnerable populations.
About tetanus:
Maternal and neonatal tetanus can be prevented through simple injections given to pregnant women and women of a child-bearing age, to protect both a women 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. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF recommend three 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.
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 programs for mothers and mothers-to-be, training schemes for physicians and nurses, and the donation of equipment for maternity wards and orphanages.
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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