Mother’s Day is a time for family. Wherever in the world your family is, we all have the same desire for our children: to protect and nurture them.
My daughter Stephanie witnessed this firsthand when she traveled to Uganda last year with Shot@Life. Stephanie met parents eager to immunize their children against preventable diseases, and thanks to programs like the ones Shot@Life supports, they had the chance.
We hear about the tragedies that occur in many developing countries because children don’t have access to basic vaccines. But there are also stories of hope because immunization programs are making a real difference.
In Uganda, Stephanie learned about Family Health Days. Four times a year, UNICEF together with the Ugandan Ministry of Health, sets up health stations outside places of worship, so congregations have access to vital health services, including vaccination programs for children.
Stephanie was able to attend a Family Health Day, where she met Rosemary, a mother of five. During Rosemary’s childhood, vaccines were scarce. Now, thanks to Family Health Days, Rosemary doesn’t have to fear that diseases such as polio and measles will threaten her children. What a change in only one generation!
Initiatives like these provide hope that we can eventually protect all children from preventable diseases. But we need your help to make it happen.
With your support, more mothers like Rosemary can know that their children are safe from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccines give children the chance to grow up, thrive and prosper. We must give families around the world the opportunity to give this chance to their children.