ADDIS ABABA (AFP) -- The third round of a tetanus toxoid vaccination campaign targeting 2.6 million child-bearing women aged between 15 and 49 has been launched in Ethiopia at a cost of 2.32 million dollars, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement released late on Monday.

The immunization campaign, which is funded by UNICEF committees in the United States, Britain and Portugal, aims at helping Ethiopia to eradicate maternal and neonatal tetanus by the year 2005.

The campaign began in western Ethiopia's Oromia State on December 4 and in Amhara state last Friday at fixed posts and temporary fixed post sites, in health facilities, selected schools and local council offices, it said.

In the first round, the vaccination covered 85 percent of those targeted, 69 percent in the second round and the third round is expected to reach 80 percent of the targeted population, it added.

Neonatal tetanus kills about 200,000 infants, while maternal tetanus is responsible for approximately 30,000 deaths worldwide annually, the statement said.

Ethiopia is ranked as having the fourth highest number in the world of deaths due to neonatal tetanus, with over 40,000 estimated infant deaths, the UNICEF statement said.

The disease can be prevented through immunization with at least three or more doses of tetanus toxoid, as well as through clean delivery practices.