Tuesday 16 October 2012

Picture a Better Future


Last Thursday I was invited along to an event in London hosted by Pampers and UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) in order to raise awareness and show case the stories of children less fortunate than our own.

For the seventh consecutive year Pampers and UNICEF are joining forces in the ongoing fight to help eliminate Maternal and Newborn Tetanus (MNT).

 Pampers and UNICEF, this month, are launching the ‘Picture A Better Future’ campaign. For every specially marked pack of Pampers bought or mum and baby photo uploaded onto the Pampers Facebook page, Pampers will donate the cost of one tetanus vaccine to continue to support UNICEF in the fight against MNT.


Pampers and UNICEF ‘one pack = one vaccine campaign’ supports two crucial interventions:

1. Expectant mothers are vaccinated which protects mum and baby against Maternal & Newborn Tetanus during birth (the riskiest time to contract this disease).

2. Mums are also encouraged to give birth in health facilities with a proper trained attendant using sterile equipment.

MNT mainly affects Mother’s and babies living in Africa and Southern and Easten Asia, really in any areas where the women are poor and have little or no access to health care. It is mainly such an issue due to inadequate immunisation services, a lack of hygienic places to give birth with many women giving birth at home on the floor, or on the side of a river bank. The after care services after having a baby are another cause with the improper cutting of the umbilical cord which can lead to infection.

MNT is a swift and painful disease with the power to kill. It killed 59,000 newborn babies back in 2008 alone. Once the disease is contracted, the fatality rate is pretty high (up to 100%) if hospital care and treatment is not sought.

But this does not have to be the case…

Over the past 7 years with the help of everyday Mum’s like you and I purchasing a pack of Pampers nappies, Pampers funding has already helped to eliminate MNT in 8 of the world’s poorest countries.

Ghana, Myanmar, Uganda, Liberia, Senegal, Guinea Bisau, Timor Leste and Burkina Faso

The event was held at Iris Studios in London and we were shown the story of these Mum’s and Mum’s to be from across the world through a series of photographs. These photographs had been put together into an eye opening exhibition. The images were beautiful and really captured the essence of these women, who really were just like you and I.

Mothers.

I found the stories of these Mum’s on the Ivory Coast eye opening, some of these parent’s to be had to travel hours to their nearest health care provider, and would have to make the same journey in the throws of labour, or just have the baby at home. It is easy to see how many of these Mum’s either don’t make the journey or end up having the baby at home, as it is such a mission to get anywhere.

Would you walk 2 hours to get to hospital while suffering contractions? I know I wouldn't, It was mission enough being driven to hospital in the car, let alone walking.

UNICEF is working hard with Pampers in order to eliminate MNT in every country. They are bringing the information and education in order to help Mum’s and babies. With each pack of Pampers that you purchase, 1 vaccine will be donated and used to immunise these Mother’s and babies against MNT.

Pampers aim is to be in touch with Mum’s around the world and make a better future for babies.

In the theme of photography, Leo and I were lucky enough to have our photograph taken by a professional photographer and came away with some lovely images and prints.


The whole day was a real eye opener, and looking through the window into a completely different culture and from some respects, world. It really did make me appreciate all that we take for granted. We are lucky enough to be immunised against all of these nasty diseases, and give birth in clean hygienic environments. We expect these things and even consider them a right, but for some people this is not a reality, and we need to do our bit to change that.

Ways you can help

1 Photo = 1 Life-Saving Vaccine: Between 1st October – 31st December 2012 you can help Pampers® and UNICEF protect pregnant women and women of child-bearing age in the developing world against Maternal & Newborn Tetanus. For each parent and baby photo uploaded onto facebook.com/PampersUKIre, Pampers® will donate the cost of one tetanus vaccine to support UNICEF in the fight against MNT.

1 Pack = 1 Live-Saving Vaccine: You can also help simply by buying a specially marked Pampers® UNICEF pack. For every pack purchased, Pampers® will donate the cost of one tetanus vaccine to support UNICEF in the fight against MNT.







2 comments:

  1. Love you two loads! Leo always has a huge smile on his face & you always look the like proudest mummy in the world! You should be so proud with what you do, your an amazing mother! - Amy xx

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    Replies
    1. This is the sweetest comment to ever grace my comments! Thanks Amy, you really put a smile on my face :-) xx

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