The Kiwanis Club of Olds is holding a garage sale on May 10 and 11 with the proceeds going towards the fight against maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT).
Kiwanis International has partnered with UNICEF to eliminate MNT, a disease that kills thousands of newborns and a large number of women every year.
According to UNICEF's website on its MNT elimination program, the disease is prevalent in areas experiencing “inadequate immunization services, limited or absent clean delivery services and improper post-partum cord care.”
“The majority of mothers and newborns dying of tetanus live in Africa and Southern and East Asia, generally in areas where women are poor, have little access to health care, and have little information about safe delivery practices,” the website states. “Once the disease is contracted, the fatality rate can be as high as 100 per cent without hospital care and between 10 per cent to 60 per cent with hospital care.
“The true extent of the tetanus death toll is not known as many newborns and mothers die at home and neither the birth nor the death is reported.”
Kiwanis is hoping to raise $110 million US for the five-year MNT elimination project.
This is the second year a garage sale for the MNT elimination effort is being held in Olds and last year's sale raised $2,000.
Second-hand items in good condition, including household goods, furniture, sports equipment, books and toys will be available at the sale, which will be held at the Olds Scout Hall at 4802 49 St. between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on May 10 and 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on May 11.
The local club will also take cash donations at the sale.
