South Africans have collectively helped to raise R1 million to help newborns survive and thrive in their first 1000 Days.
On the 15 June, Pampers handed over their R1 million donation to UNICEF as part of the first 1000 Days initiative, a campaign that aims to help raise awareness regarding the importance of proper nutrition during an infant’s first 1000 days.
In 2017, the world’s top-selling brand of baby nappies, Pampers, partnered with Pick n Pay, to help raise R1 million to support UNICEF’s First 1000 Days initiative.
For every Pampers product purchased at any Pick n Pay nationwide, Pampers donated R10 to UNICEF. With the help of loving South African parents, the partnership managed to raise R 1 000 000 to help turn the tide against the high infant mortality rate in the country, which currently stands at 31 infants deaths for every 1000 live births.
“For the last 50 years, we have been dedicated to every baby’s happy and healthy development. Nutrition plays an important role in this, which makes initiatives like this exceedingly important. Our partnership with PnP has been a great success and enabled us to reach new heights in our campaign to help South African children grow into healthy adults,” explains Zizwe Vundla, Brand Director for Pampers South Africa.
The first 1000 days of life – between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday – is a unique period of opportunity when the foundations for optimum health and development across the lifespan are established.
The right nutrition and care during the 1000 day window influences not only whether the child will survive, but also his or her ability to grow, learn and rise out of poverty. As such, it contributes to society’s long-term health, stability and prosperity.
“South African children continue to die from preventable causes, including pneumonia, HIV, TB, and diarrhoea. All these are influenced by poor health-seeking behaviour, healthcare, infectious diseases, nutrition and hygiene of the pregnant mother and child during the first 1000 days,” says Hervé Ludovic de Lys, UNICEF representative for South Africa.To play a part in the fight against South African infant mortality, visit UNICEF today.
Approximately one third of children under the age of 3 are stunted, a reflection of chronic malnutrition. The effects of stunting last a lifetime, leading to impaired brain development, lower IQ, weakened immune systems and greater risk of diseases later in life. Children who were stunted frequently have lower productivity, and earn up to 20 per cent lower than average wages as adults. Stunting can reduce a country’s GDP by as much as three per cent. Rising childhood obesity in South Africa is another reflection of poor nutrition and poor infant feeding practices that also leads to disease and ill health later in life.
The 1000 Days initiative aims to help raise awareness regarding the importance of proper nutrition during an infant’s first 1000 days.
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