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Nurses Partner to 'Wipe Out Diaper Need'

CBN

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In the United States, 5.3 million children, from newborn to age three, live in poor or low-income families. Some families get governmental aid for necessities like food, but there's another need that some families with low-income face every day: diapers.

Disposable diapers can cost $70-80 per month, per baby.

The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) just launched a national campaign, partnering with Huggies and the National Diaper Bank, to raise 100,000 diapers for families in need.

The campaing slogan is "Wipe Out Diaper Need."

"We hope to get diapers in the hands of people who truly need them," Lynn Erdman, CEO of AWHONN, told CBN News.

"What we find is that a lot of families are having to take their children out of daycare because they don't have enough diapers to take to the daycare and leave their child. That means they cannot work, and so then the income is challenged even more," she said.

The campaign began when Erdman and other nurses heard patients' stories describing how much they needed diapers.

"We certainly want to make a difference in families. Our mission is to improve the health of both women and newborns, so this is a perfect way to do that," Erdman said.

Erdman described the need as "pervasive."

"It happens in one out of every three families," she explained.

She added that it's important to raise awareneess for the need since many people might be embarrased that they can't afford a diapers.

"It's one of those problems in our country that's not discussed," she said.

How extensive is the need? Lynn Erdman, CEO of AWHONN, answered this and more. 

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