Children First Speaker Series with Carrie Rhodes

 

U.S. Fund for UNICEF Deputy Director Elana Western, Carrie Rhodes, and Children First Committee Co-Chair Barrie Landry.

 

On April 2, 2015 we were pleased to host the UNICEF Children First Speaker Series with guest speakers Carrie Rhodes, volunteer leader for The Eliminate Project, and Michael Grudzinski, Director, Fundraising Partnerships, U.S. Fund for UNICEF.  It was an opportunity to learn more about UNICEF’s role in eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) through the Eliminate Project, a joint initiative with Kiwanis International.

 

With increased immunizations, maternal health advocacy, and community outreach and education, MNT has been eliminated in 35 countries, including priority countries such as Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, East Timor, and China. The number of newborns dying from tetanus has decreased by more than 15% in just three years. Despite this considerable and inspiring progress, this preventable disease still claims the lives of approximately 49,000 newborns and a significant number of mothers each year, and remains a lethal threat in 24 countries.

 

Collaboration with like-minded organizations is critical to UNICEF’s proven success in saving the lives of children around the world. To challenge this deadly disease, UNICEF has partnered with Kiwanis International with the goal of eliminating MNT from every corner of the globe. The Eliminate project establishes sustainable health systems around the world, providing injection supplies, planning and training of health workers, and community education programs that focus on maternal health.