Tetanus affects the lives of 500,000 people a year, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).
In its latest campaign to fight the disease, the organisation has partnered with Procter and Gamble, where the consumer goods manufacturer has vowed to donate one tetanus vaccine for every pack of its Pampers nappies sold.
The campaign, which began in 2006 in Europe, has already been rolled out around the world. In the UAE, organisers are hoping it will help provide the much needed vaccine to women and children in Pakistan, Nigeria and Sudan, where the disease is rife.
Emirates Business spoke to Unicef's chief of fundraising and partnerships for the Gulf, Tarek Shayya, to find out more about the impact of the disease, the challenges it poses and how it can be eliminated.
How serious is the prevalence of tetanus?
Tetanus is claiming the lives of 140,000 newborn babies and 40,000 mothers every year so it's a very serious problem. It's prevalent despite the development of a vaccine eight years ago. But due to lack of access to medical care in the Third World, it still exists in 47 countries. Therefore we are working with Proctor and Gamble to change this and save lives.
If it is preventable then why does it claim so many lives?
It's mainly due to a lack of access to healthcare. Unfortunately, many people around the world either can't afford medical care or live too far away from even basic care therefore hundreds of women are delivering babies in unsanitised conditions every day, which increases their risk of contracting it.
What causes tetanus?
It's contracted through an unhealthy environment. Tetanus occurs when bacteria from soil or sewage gets into a person's blood stream through a scratch on their body. The bacteria then starts to affect the nervous system. Once this happens it is untreatable and makes it a painful death.
How did the campaign with Pampers come about and what are you hoping to achieve through it?
Unicef has been working for many years on tetanus and other childhood diseases. In 2006, Procter and Gamble and Unicef launched this campaign in Europe before rolling it out to other areas. Globally, we have bought 50 million vaccines and have a target of 200m over the next three years. We hope to one day eliminate tetanus.
How much do the vaccines cost and how many have been provided so far?
The vaccine costs just seven cents (26fils) but it is the price of delivery that varies and makes it more expensive.
Issues surrounding shipping and transport as well like whether the country is a conflict or a non-conflict zone and how good access routes are all impact us. Women need two doses, which will protect them and any child they have within three years, but even then it costs no more than $1 (Dh3.67) for one treatment.