THB 99 WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO A MOTHER AND CHILD

Groupon Thailand and theUnited Nations World Food Programme (WFP) join hands to support the nutritional needs of mothers and children in Asia Groupon Thailand, the global pioneer and leader in local e-commerce, and theUnited Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, have joined in a unique partnership to raise awareness and support for nutrition activities that benefit mothers and children in Asia. Available from 15 November until 26 November 2012, the ‘Groupon for Women’ deal calls for the people of Thailand to come together and each donate 99 baht through Groupon’s homepage www.mygroupon.co.th. Each donation helps provide a vital nutritious meal, making a difference for a pregnant or new mother and her child in Asia. The full proceeds of each ‘Groupon for Women’ deal will go to WFP’s nutrition activities in 14 countries in Asia. The collaboration between Groupon and WFP is the first of its kind in Thailand. Starting November 15, direct links to the campaign can be found at http://gr.pn/wfp (for Thai language site) or http://gr.pn/wfpen (for English language site), in addition toon the Groupon homepage www.mygroupon.co.th. Malnourishment: A Severe Problem in Asia According to The Lancet’s Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition 2008, there are more undernourished children in Asia than in any other continent. Compared to well-nourished and healthy children, approximately 130 million Asian children under five years are affected by undernutrition. Undernutrition results in severe consequences including vital organ underdevelopment, as well as reduced height and body weight. These are all important indicators of chronic malnutrition, limited food intake or disease. Low birth weight is currently at critical levels in six Asian countries. Nutritious meals for pregnant mothers and children early in life can prevent irreversible damage to children and ensure a strong start towards a healthy and productive life. WFP works in over 70 countries around the world and in 14 countries in Asia, where it is assisting more than 2.5 million pregnant or new mothers and their children under two years of age obtain their vital nutrition needs. "By providing women and children with nutritious food, focusing on the first 1000 days of life, we can fight hunger and malnutrition with benefits for a child’s entire lifetime. We are grateful to Groupon Thailand for providing an e-commerce platform for its subscribers in Thailand to support women in need," said Ms. Monica Marshall, Deputy Director of Private Partnerships for WFP. "For many mothers and their children across Asia, the nutritious food that they receive from WFP could be the only proper meal they will eat all day. For 50 years, WFP programmes have helped women break the cycle of hunger and poverty and strengthen their children’s future." Commenting on the campaign, President and Managing Director of Groupon Thailand, Trip Wagoner said, “We are proud to be part of this worthy cause which supports the nutritional needs of mothers and children in Asia. Our commitment to providing our subscribers with the best life experiences goes beyond simply providing outstanding deals daily, but also to providing chances for them to make a difference in the lives of others. With the ‘Groupon for Women’ deal, we certainly hope to empower the community here in Thailand to support women and invest in Asia’s future.” Making a Difference in the Mother’s and Child’s Life WFP is committed to building the brains and bodies of the next generation by nourishing children and mothers with the right food at the right time. Malnourished mothers often give birth to underweight babies, who are 20 percent more likely to die before the age of five. Each 99 baht ‘Groupon for Women’ deal helps provide a vital nutritious meal, making a difference for a pregnant or new mother and her child. Groupon Thailand and WFP aims to ‘sell' at least 930 deals, which would provide 125 pregnant and new mothers and 145 children under two years of age (6-23 months old) with food for one month. Each month a pregnant or new mother will receive 30 sachets of special fortified food, and for up to seven visits to a health centre she is given ten kg of rice each time. When her child is six months old and starts eating foods other than breast milk, the child receives four pots (1.3 kg each) of fortified food a month or about one spoonful with every meal. To contribute to WFP’s Mothers-to-Mothers campaign through the ‘Groupon for Women’ initiative, starting on November 15, please visit http://gr.pn/wfp (Thai language) or http://gr.pn/wfpen (English language). For more information please contact (email address: [email protected]): Marcus Prior, WFP/Bangkok, Tel. +6626598653 Patricia Facultad, WFP/Bangkok, Tel. +6626598653, +66819216573 PornpromChalarat, Marketing & Partnership Manager, Groupon Thailand, [email protected] Orapim Thongbhakdi, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Thailand, Tel: +66 2-627-3501 ext. 211, [email protected] -นท-

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