AFRO-NETS> Gates Foundation Gives UNICEF $10 Million For Tetanus Drive

[Leela McCullough <leela@healthnet.org>]

Gates Foundation Gives UNICEF $10 Million For Tetanus Drive
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Source: U.N.Wire
http://www.unwire.org/News/328_426_10520.asp
 
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
 
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $10 million yester-
day to UNICEF to fight maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT), 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 coun-
tries 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 com-
mitment to the elimination of MNT will help save the lives of 
millions of newborns and their mothers".
 
UNICEF release:
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_16054.html
 
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Dr. Leela McCullough
Director of Information Services
SATELLIFE
30 California Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
Tel: +1-617-926-9400 
Fax: +1-617-926-1212
mailto:leela@usa.healthnet.org
http://www.healthnet.org

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