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http://unicef.org.nz:80/page/260/UniteforMothers.html

 

NEW ZEALAND - UNICEF

 

Unite for Mothers is a Campaign to prevent pregnant

mothers from passing HIV on to their children.



Almost every minute of every day, a baby is born with HIV, passed on by their mother during pregnancy, labour or delivery. Unite for Mothers is a campaign to prevent pregnant mothers from passing HIV on to their children.

Take Action

» Sign the Unite for Mothers petition
» Knit or crochet a square for change
» Stand United for Mothers this Mother’s Day

 

 

Mother’s Day (10th May) celebrates the strength and trials of motherhood. For millions of women in the developing world the risk of HIV and AIDS is a reality, and pregnancy poses new concerns. Far too few pregnant women are tested for the virus and far too few are treated. With no diagnosis, and no treatment, the mother’s baby is at risk of contracting the disease too. Testing the mother and getting treatment to both mother and child is essential for their survival.

This Mother’s Day, we want you to join UNICEF in reminding New Zealanders and our Government that every mother who is tested and treated for HIV and AIDS may one day see her child grow up healthy. The best gift a mother could have.

BORN FREE

You can help ensure that more babies are born HIV free by  purchasing an HIV test kit for 50 mothers to be.
Buy one now for just $66.


Sign the petition online

Ask our Government to respond to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in our Pacific neighbourhood and ensure the next generation is born free of HIV. Join with other Kiwis - including Alison Mau, Roger Hall and Gareth Morgan - and  sign the petition now.

Knit for change! 

Knit or crochet a 20x20cm square and post or drop it in to UNICEF by Friday 1st May.  We need 1,400 squares.  1,400 represents the number of new HIV infections in children under 15 every day, mostly as a result of mother to child transmission.  We will stitch the squares into a giant ‘baby blanket’ which will be handed to MPs who are mums as a symbolic gesture this Mother’s Day (see below).

Download instructions on how to make your square for change and where to post the squares when you have completed them. Please let us know how many squares you plan to knit by emailing takeaction@unicef.org.nz or by phoning 0800 243 575 (NZ only) or (+64) (04) 496 9610.

join us at parliament on mothers day

Join us at 3pm on Sunday 10th May at Parliament Gardens in Wellington.  We will unveil the giant baby blanket and hand over our petition to MPs who are mothers.  Be entertained by the amazing dance troupe the RHBs who will perform a one-off Mother’s Day special performance! Print the flier here and distribute it wherever you can.

Do more:

» Read our handy fact sheet about prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
» Join UNICEF’s Campaigners for Change by emailing takeaction@unicef.org.nz
» Tell your friends about this campaign and ask them to take action
» Write a letter to the editor or alert your local newspaper to the campaign
» Be the media!  Blog about the event and join UNICEF’s Facebook group
» Host your own UNICEF event.... have a film night, curry night or pub quiz and ask for a gold coin donation to save and transform the lives of children.
» Read more about UNICEF’s response to HIV and AIDS
» Buy an Inspired Gift for your Mum this Mother’s Day

The Issue

  • In 2007, almost 400,000 babies came into the world destined to live a terribly shortened life with HIV
  • Every day 1,400 children under 15 die of AIDS related illnesses
  • Without treatment, half of all HIV positive babies will not live long enough to see their second birthday; a third will be dead by their first
  • Less than 10 per cent of pregnant women are being offered services to prevent transmission of HIV to their infants
  • Only 9 percent of HIV positive pregnant women receive treatment for their own health
  • A drug that halves the chance of babies getting HIV from their Mum's costs as little as $3.50


This is why UNICEF is calling for action. A terrible injustice is taking place. Some of the world’s most vulnerable children, in the world’s poorest countries, are being denied a chance of life.

The good news is that we can prevent babies getting HIV from their mothers.  Medication given to a woman during pregnancy and delivery, and to her infant shortly following birth, has been shown to sharply reduce the likelihood of mother passing the HIV virus to her baby.  In fact the drug that halves the chance of babies getting HIV from their Mum’s costs as little as $3.50.

Together with our governments and communities we can and must do more.

UNICEF NZ’s Unite for Mothers campaign is part of UNICEF's global effort to bring about real and lasting change for children affected by HIV and AIDS.





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