© UNICEF/UNI288583// Frank Dejongh

Happy Mother’s
Month of MAY!

We cannot change the lives
of children alone!
We need YOU!​

Happy Mother’s Month of MAY!

“You are the sunshine of my life.” It is what many mothers would like to tell their children. But for many women, these simple words remain a dream. 7,000 newborn babies die every day – the lives of 2.5 million newborns are cut short each year. Millions of girls and boys who will never get the chance to grow and thrive. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Good midwives, affordable and quality health care, good nutrition and clean water can help save more newborn babies.

This year’s Mother’s Day appears in a different light, with a new urge to thank mothers for their care and attention over the years. We are – rightly – celebrating and thanking the “frontline” workers facing the pandemic – and as we spend more time at home, we recognize and appreciate even more the heartbeat of our homes: our mothers, with their resilience, their patience, and most of all, their love. More than ever, May – the month for mothers – is the best time to express your wholehearted gratitude towards your beloved mother; the person who made you what you are, a caring human being.

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This year’s Mother’s Day appears in a different light, with a new urge to thank mothers for their care and attention over the years. We are – rightly – celebrating and thanking the “frontline” workers facing the pandemic – and as we spend more time at home, we recognize and appreciate even more the heartbeat of our homes: our mothers, with their resilience, their patience, and most of all, their love. More than ever, May – the month for mothers – is the best time to express your wholehearted gratitude towards your beloved mother; the person who made you what you are, a caring human being.
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Every year, UNICEF helps deliver millions of newborns around the world

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to support birth in health facilities for 27 million babies in countries with high neonatal and maternal mortality in 2018. You helped these babies survive. You helped families celebrate the first anniversaries of their children and see what a difference a year made.

Thank you for supporting UNICEF to help deliver millions of newborns around the world. Among the millions of babies you and more donors helped, we have chosen three – this is their story, of hope and survival.

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Thank you for supporting UNICEF to help deliver millions of newborns around the world. Among the millions of babies you and more donors helped, we have chosen three – this is their story, of hope and survival.
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Help us help more children

UNICEF supports birth in health facilities for 27 million babies in countries with high neonatal and maternal mortality.

© UNICEF/UN0188863/Njiokiktjien VII Photo © UNICEF/UN0336461/Babajanyan VII Photo

Baby Ayedatujannah @ Bangladesh

Ayedatujannah, whose name means ‘Greetings, she who returned from heaven’, was born 8 weeks premature, weighing just 2 kilograms. Her arrival into the world wasn’t easy. She didn’t cry after she was born, but convulsed and turned blue. In Bangladesh, about one-third of newborns die from prematurity. She spent four days on life support at the UNICEF-supported Special Newborn Unit (SCANU), where kangaroo mother care and breastfeeding practices are in place. She survived, amazingly.

Her mother, Jannatul, says, “When she survived, it was as if she was coming back from heaven.” When she turned one, her family had a large celebration. She is still breast-fed and has a variety of nutritious food in her daily diet. But, what she really likes is cold water and solid ice!

Ayedatujannah, whose name means ‘Greetings, she who returned from heaven’, was born 8 weeks premature, weighing just 2 kilograms. Her arrival into the world wasn’t easy. She didn’t cry after she was born, but convulsed and turned blue. [show_more more=”Read more” less=””]In Bangladesh, about one-third of newborns die from prematurity. She spent four days on life support at the UNICEF-supported Special Newborn Unit (SCANU), where kangaroo mother care and breastfeeding practices are in place. She survived, amazingly.

Her mother, Jannatul, says, “When she survived, it was as if she was coming back from heaven.” When she turned one, her family had a large celebration. She is still breast-fed and has a variety of nutritious food in her daily diet. But, what she really likes is cold water and solid ice!
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Take a look! See how happy this baby girl is!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

For enabling Jannatul, the mother of Ayedatujannah, dare to hope for her girl’s future…

“I just hope she becomes a good person and that she is capable of leading her own life in a good way. She should be a good woman who can handle situations by herself.”
– Jannatul, mother of Ayedatujannah

For helping UNICEF to bring kangaroo mother care, one of the most effective preterm interventions, to Bangladesh and offer training to doctors and nurses…

Before 2016, the neonatal mortality rate was 22 per 1,000 live births at the Institute of Child and Mother Health (ICMH) in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. After the opening of a SCANU in 2016, it dropped to 9.3 per 1,000 live births, the lowest of all SCANUs in Bangladesh.​

BABY SUGARMAA @ MONGOLIA

Sugarmaa, whose name means ‘Friday’ in Tibetan, was born in a UNICEF-supported health centre equipped with a ‘mother waiting house’. Thus, her mother, Delgermurun, could stay close to her family in the days leading up to her birth, and obtain proper breastfeeding, nutrition and more vital advice on how best to take care of a newborn baby. Delgermurun says, “I was so happy and glad after she was born.” One year later, Sugarmaa ’s growth and overall development are all good. She is especially good at learning from observation and copying others’ actions.

Between 2014 and 2018, the newborn mortality rate dropped from 10.2 to below 9 deaths per 1,000 live births in Mongolia. Yet, there are still lot of challenges remain – malnutrition, long travel distances to health clinics and insufficient health staff trainings, etc.

Baby Liam @ Peru

Liam, an only child, was born to his mother Verónica, in a UNICEF-supported health centre in Yaurisque district, Peru. People there are mainly indigenous citizens living over 3,000 metres above sea level… Chronic malnutrition, long distances to clinics, and harsh living conditions in rural villages continue to imperil lives. UNICEF helped build the first Mama wasi, also known as “mother-waiting-house”, in Peru, and more across the region afterwards, to offer pregnant women a chance to wait, rest and receive necessary care near a hospital before their babies come.

One year after his birth, Verónica reports that Liam is healthy and doesn’t suffer from anaemia, which is one of biggest public health problems in Peru. “He eats everything,” she says, “sometimes I also blend in the skin of a banana and crushed eggshells [into the smoothies for him].” Thanks to nutrition trainings from a midwife, his mother improved Liam’s diet.

Baby Sugarmaa @ Mongolia

Sugarmaa, whose name means ‘Friday’ in Tibetan, was born in a UNICEF-supported health centre equipped with a ‘mother waiting house’. [show_more more=”Read more” less=””]Thus, her mother, Delgermurun, could stay close to her family in the days leading up to her birth, and obtain proper breastfeeding, nutrition and more vital advice on how best to take care of a newborn baby. Delgermurun says, “I was so happy and glad after she was born.” One year later, Sugarmaa ’s growth and overall development are all good. She is especially good at learning from observation and copying others’ actions.

Between 2014 and 2018, the newborn mortality rate dropped from 10.2 to below 9 deaths per 1,000 live births in Mongolia. Yet, there are still lot of challenges remain – malnutrition, long travel distances to health clinics and insufficient health staff trainings, etc.
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Baby Liam @ Peru

Liam, an only child, was born to his mother Verónica, in a UNICEF-supported health centre in Yaurisque district, Peru. [show_more more=”Read more” less=””]People there are mainly indigenous citizens living over 3,000 metres above sea level… Chronic malnutrition, long distances to clinics, and harsh living conditions in rural villages continue to imperil lives. UNICEF helped build the first Mama wasi, also known as “mother-waiting-house”, in Peru, and more across the region afterwards, to offer pregnant women a chance to wait, rest and receive necessary care near a hospital before their babies come.

One year after his birth, Verónica reports that Liam is healthy and doesn’t suffer from anaemia, which is one of biggest public health problems in Peru. “He eats everything,” she says, “sometimes I also blend in the skin of a banana and crushed eggshells [into the smoothies for him].” Thanks to nutrition trainings from a midwife, his mother improved Liam’s diet.
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Help us to keep saving more babies!
Pass on the happiness to all mothers and families.

© UNICEF 2020

SALUTE TO EVERY MUM.

Every day, many mothers do whatever it takes to save and nurture the lives of their children. Today, we want you to meet Tina, a mother of two, also one of the UNICEF staff who are on the frontlines, getting things done for the world’s children.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US! WE NEVER GIVE UP!

© UNICEF/UN0336462/Babajanyan VII Photo
Baby girl Ayedatujannah at 1 year old. She wears in a red floral pattern one-piece dress and stands on her own. She looks to her left-hand side with a radient smile. Photo credit: © UNICEF/UN0336462/Babajanyan VII Photo

Pick an extraordinary gift for mother.
Pass on the sunshine to many more.

This year, pick an extraordinary gift for your beloved mother. To donate a gift on behalf of your mother, so that you and your mother can bring real impact to mothers and babies in need collectively. Your mother will also receive an e-card from UNICEF, wishing her a Happy Mother’s Day.

7,000 newborn babies die every day – the lives of 2.5 million newborns are cut short each year. Good midwives, affordable and quality health care, good nutrition and clean water can help save more newborn babies.

A survival gift of RM600 can provide 48 cans of therapeutic milk to treat severe malnutrition in infants and children. Help us save more babies! #EveryChildALIVE

Send two blessings with one click!