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BD, UNICEF and the US Committee for UNICEF Resolve to Increase Efforts to Eliminate this "Silent Killer" Through Safe Immunization Campaigns.

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Originally reluctant, Jan Devi accepts MNT vaccination and describes shot as 'painless'during a campaign conducted in India. (Photo courtesy of Sondeep Shankar/U.S. Committee for UNICEF)

During the spring of 1998, to address the worldwide elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus, BD and UNICEF created the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health. On June 22, 1999 encouraged by BD's initial commitment of four million dollars in cash, products and technical expertise, the partners resolved to expand their collective efforts and strengths to reach that goal.

"BD takes very seriously its corporate aim to help eliminate unnecessary suffering and death from disease. MNT is a disease of pain, poverty and neglect that strikes hardest at the most vulnerable. We pledge to expand our efforts in support of this important initiative."
Clateo Castellini, Chairman

The global plan calls for the safe immunization of over 90 million women worldwide. BD will provide 135 million auto-disable syringes and injection devices—50% of what is needed—to support this global campaign. BD auto-disable products --
UNIJECT® and SOLOSHOT®
-- will safely deliver the tetanus toxoid vaccine and eliminate the risk of infection through reuse, supporting the WHO guidelines for safe immunizations.

MNT occurs in areas where poverty, poor hygiene, and inefficient or non-existent health services combine to provide ideal conditions for clostridum tetani, the bacterium that causes tetanus. Dr. François Gasse, Technical Advisor to UNICEF, describes MNT as "a disease of the poor and the poorest countries." A painful disease that kills 70 to 80% of newborns infected, MNT also kills an estimated 30,000 – 50,000 mothers a year.

27 countries currently account for 90% of neonatal tetanus cases worldwide. The global plan focuses on combating the disease in high-risk areas of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the West Pacific, providing three tetanus toxoid immunization rounds for all women of childbearing age.

View excerpts of Dr. Gasse's presentation on MNT and the high-risk approach.

In Dhanela, India, local healthcare workers carry auto-disable syringes used in recent campaign. (Photo courtesy of Sondeep Shankar/U.S. Committee for UNICEF)

"The US Committee for UNICEF and BD accept a sense of responsibility to eliminate the threat of MNT. What's more, we accept that neither organization can accomplish this single handedly."

--- Charles J. Lyons, President, US Committee for UNICEF

Many organizations strengthen the work of the Partnership. Some include:

• BD
• UNICEF
• US Committee for UNICEF
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Program for Appropriate Technology for Health (PATH)
• UN Population Fund (UNFPA)

"The collaboration between BD and UNICEF to bring this scourge to an end...sets the stage to eliminate this killer of children and mothers once and for all. I remind you that we have eliminated smallpox from the face of the earth, we're on the verge of eliminating polio, and, with your help, neonatal tetanus can be next."
Stephen Lewis, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF

Additional links to:

Resolution of Expanded Partnership
Notable facts about MNT
Announcement of Creation of Partnership