Description: Kiwanis International is committed to saving and protecting mothers and babies from maternal and neonatal tetanus.
unicef (115) kiwanis international (11) kiwanis children's fund maternal and neonatal tetanus
Maternal and neonatal tetanus is deadly. And it’s painful – preventing even the comfort of a mother’s touch.
There’s an additional tragedy: MNT afflicts babies even though it’s preventable. The vaccine has been safely used since the 1940s, and other preventive measures, including maternal health education, have had a proven long-term impact. And yet, millions have died from this disease because of poverty and unsafe birthing practices.
Kiwanis International has been fighting MNT since 2010, when we partnered with UNICEF for The Eliminate Project. During that campaign, which concluded in 2020, we raised money for lifesaving vaccines, health education, safe birth environments and more — all for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations.