UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)
Media Release

UNICEF calls on Kiwis to create giant baby blanket this Mother’s Day

Wellington, 16 April 2009. – The UN Children’s Fund is calling on Kiwi knitters to get their needles clacking as part of a nationwide attempt to construct a giant baby blanket and raise awareness of AIDS in the developing world.

People all around New Zealand are being asked to knit or crochet at least one 20cm x 20cm square and send it to UNICEF in Wellington by 1 May. The squares will then be stitched together to form a blanket of 1,400 squares. The 1,400 squares represent the number of children under 15 years of age who contract HIV every day.

UNICEF International Advocacy Manager, Sarah Morris, says that the Unite for Mother’s campaign celebrates the strength and trials of motherhood.

“For millions of women in the developing world the risk of HIV and AIDS is a stark reality.

“Pregnancy creates the added risk of passing the virus to their child, whether during pregnancy, labour or delivery.

“Greater testing and treatment of pregnant women can significantly reduce the risk of passing on the virus to their children, but less than 10 per cent of women are getting the help they need.

“The good news is that cost-effective treatment options are available, but more effort and resource needs to be applied in order to save the lives of countless mothers and children.”

Ms Morris says that the giant baby blanket is a fun way for people from around the country to do their bit in highlighting what is a serious issue.

“It’s a tangible reminder for this Mother’s Day that every mother who is tested and treated for HIV and AIDS may one day see her child grow up strong and healthy. That’s the best gift a mother could ask for.”

Ms Morris says the giant baby blanket will be presented to MPs who are mothers at a fun public event outside Parliament on Mother’s Day, Sunday 10 May at 3pm. After the Mother’s Day celebration the giant blanket will be split into smaller baby blankets which will be sent to mums in need in Papua New Guinea.

People can also support the Unite for Mothers campaign by signing an online petition. The petition calls on the Government to do all it can to achieve UN Millennium Development Goal 6: to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV-AIDS by 2015.

Ms Morris says countries in our own backyard are facing a potential HIV-AIDS crisis.

“In Papua New Guinea, for example, nearly two per cent of the population is already believed to be living with HIV and AIDS.

“If HIV transmission rates remain at current levels, however, Papua New Guinea could have an HIV prevalence of six per cent by 2015, meaning that some 200,000 people would be HIV positive.”

More information about the Unite for Mothers campaign, including knitting instructions and an online petition, can be found at www.unicef.org.nz

ENDS

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