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Enormous
Commitment
"Now,
the Foundation’s enormous commitment of US$10 billion over the next 10 years
to help research, develop and deliver vaccines to the world’s poorest
countries sets a new precedent in global heath.
And
just at the right time. We stand on the threshold of a new decade with very
exciting prospects.
For the first time in history, we have the opportunity to
deliver new life-saving vaccines against the two biggest childhood killers in
the world: pneumonia and diarrhoea.
The
Foundation’s announcement is a challenge to other donors to sustain and
expand their support so we can tackle these killers.
Living
Proof
As
Bill and Melinda emphasised, we need look no further than GAVI’s first 10
years for living proof that immunisation is one of the most cost-effective
ways to save children’s lives.
When
the Alliance was set-up, immunisation rates in low-income countries were in
decline and there was slow progress in introducing new vaccines against
hepatitis B and yellow fever.
By drawing on the individual strengths of
the Alliance’s partners, GAVI support has pushed immunisation rates in
developing countries to an unprecedented 80 percent average; and previously
underused vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and
Hepatitis B have been introduced widely in the poorest countries in the world.
Since
2000, GAVI support has reached more than 250 million children and, critically,
saved five million lives.
Revolution
in Development Aid
In
the process, the Alliance has pioneered a revolution in development aid.
The
sheer scale of the funds raised by groundbreaking financial instruments like
the IFFIm (US$ 2.3 billion generated in just three years) encourages
developing countries to invest in long-term immunisation programmes.
Likewise, manufacturers see the value in producing new vaccines for a
guaranteed market.
Continued
Generosity of Donors
Despite these achievements, there is the sober reminder that nearly 2.4
million children continue to die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases.
GAVI,
aged 10, has the expertise to play a key role in the forthcoming “decade of
vaccines.”
However, the Alliance’s plans to protect the lives of some 11
million children by rolling out vaccines against pneumococcal disease and
rotavirus in 42 and 44 countries respectively, hinges on the continued
generosity of donors, both public and private."
The
GAVI Alliance
is a Geneva-based public-private partnership aimed at improving health
in the world’s poorest countries.
The
Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the
World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry
in both industrialised and developing countries, research and technical
agencies, NGOs, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other
private philanthropists.
GAVI
support consists of providing life-saving vaccines and strengthening
health systems.
Since
2000, over 200 million children have been vaccinated and 3.4 million
premature deaths averted thanks to GAVI-funded programmes.
For
more information, please visit: www.gavialliance.org.
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