E-drug: Fund for the fight against maternal and neonatal tetanus
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Gates Foundation Gives UNICEF $10 Million For Tetanus Drive
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $10 million yesterday
to UNICEF to fight maternal and neonatal tetanus, which kills an
estimated 230,000 mothers and babies annually. The gift is an
extension of the $26 million the Gates Foundation gave in 1999.
MNT occurs when tetanus spores, found in soil, come in contact with
open cuts during childbirth in unclean conditions. While tetanus kills
80 percent of newborns and mothers who develop it, UNICEF can
perform vaccinations at a cost of $1.20 per woman.
UNICEF will use the grant to promote safe childbirth, to monitor
progress toward the elimination of the disease in at-risk countries and
to immunize against MNT. An estimated 207 million women still need
to be immunized.
According to Charles Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF,
"The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's financial commitment to the
elimination of MNT will help save the lives of millions of newborns and
their mothers"
www.unicef.org/media/media_16054.html
Dr. Leela McCullough
Director of Information Services
SATELLIFE
30 California Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
Tel: +617-926-9400 Fax: +617-926-1212
Email: leela@usa.healthnet.org
Web: http://www.healthnet.org
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