Kiwanis, UNICEF Join Forces Having saved millions of lives through its campaign to virtually eliminate Iodine Deficiency disorders, Kiwanis is set to battle another scourge that kills 160 children every day: maternal and neonatal tetanus. The new global campaign for children was announced June 24, 2010 . Joining forces with UNICEF, Kiwanis and its 600,000 family members will raise US$110 million to eliminate this disease that kills one baby every nine minutes! Tetanus spores are found everywhere in the air, soil and contaminated objects. Bacteria can enter a mother's body through an open wound and pass through a newly cut umbilical cord. The effects are excruciating. Tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions and become hypersensitive to light, sound and touch. Even a mother's soothing voice and comforting caresses are unbearable. Kiwanis will devote the 2010-11 administrative year to educating its members about the disease and the Kiwanis campaign, preparing for the campaign launch at the 2011 International Convention in Geneva, Switzerland.