May 23 - "Every 20 seconds a child dies from causes that are preventable with a vaccine. Every 20 seconds an alarm should go off. I am convinced that with UNICEF we can reach and vaccinate every child. We’re waiting for you in the squares of Italy May 24-25." With 290 goals scored for AS Roma, Francesco Totti has always refused to be only a football champion. The AS Roma captain, currently on tour in the U.S. with his teammates, is a UNICEF ambassador and in that role he uploaded a video message to support the campaign "100% Vacciniamoli Tutti." The video was launched on the eve of the presentation of the campaign in more than 350 locations in Italy. "We thank Francesco for agreeing once again to team up with UNICEF and support this important initiative," said the president of UNICEF Italy, Giacomo Guerrera, who adds: "All those who will join the initiative and donate €5 will receive a bell, symbol of our campaign."

THE 8 COUNTRIES WHERE A QUARTER OF TOTAL INFANT DEATHS OCCUR

The international campaign "100% Vacciniamoli tutti" (www.vacciniamolitutti.it) was launched by UNICEF to support the 8 countries in which over a quarter of all child deaths happen: Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan and Yemen. In these countries, about 6 million children aren’t vaccinated, many of whom live in remote areas without access to basic health services due to conflict, poverty, social tensions and lack of a health system. The aim of the campaign is to eradicate polio and to vaccinate all children with the routine shots by 2017. This weekend will be Italy’s turn to help reach this goal.