H&M Australia has launched its first in-store fundraising campaign across the country, in partnership with UNICEF.
For the month December, H&M Australia will support UNICEF’s immunisation program in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where customers can make a difference to children in PNG with a $2 donation on top of any purchase.
H&M has supported UNICEF's programs since 2004, with this month's program the first fundraising campaign launched in Australian stores, H&M Australia country manager Thomas Coellner said.
"We are pleased to expand on our global partnership and support UNICEF Australia’s important work in helping protect children from disease," he said.
UNICEF Australia CEO Tony Stuart added that it is especially important to support the cause this year, after many regular donations were paused.
"This year we have seen critical immunisation programs, that save millions of lives annually, paused because of COVID-19.
"With decades of progress made against diseases like measles, polio and tetanus at risk, there’s never been a more important time for partnerships like this with H&M where the Australian public can make a lasting difference in the lives of the most vulnerable children," he said.
The PNG immunisation program supports all routine immunisations, but focuses particularly on increasing the coverage of the measles-rubella vaccine and the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against five major diseases: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae type b.
The partnership with H&M Australia will benefit PNG’s Western Highlands Province, an area that, according to UNICEF, often sees outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases because of its remote location, inaccessibility and low awareness on key health issues.
Through both health centres and community-based outreach, UNICEF is expanding a network of village health volunteers to reach the most vulnerable and unreached communities with lifesaving vaccines and health education.