$3.9 million contributed!
“It’s the last Week of RI’s Month of Maternal & Child’s Health
Nine Pacific countries have committed to greater protection for children against life threatening diseases by expanding their immunization program that has been implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with Ministries of Health and funding from Rotary since 2020.The commitment will see vaccines for Pneumococcal Disease, Rotavirus, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) added to the nations’ National Programs for Immunization. Rotary Project Director, James Allen, has been leading Rotary fundraising in Australia and New Zealand, and said, “Pacific countries are our near neighbors and we’re proud of the contribution we have made to protect children and adolescents in the region against life-threatening illnesses including pneumonia, diarrhea, and cervical cancer.” In the Pacific, pneumonia and diarrhea are among the top three causes of mortality in children under five years of age, while around one-third of all pneumonia deaths are due to pneumococcal disease. Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in children aged less than five years. Severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration, particularly in young children, and if left untreated can be life-threatening. Since the Rotary ‘Give Every Child a Future’ project’s inception, it has supported the countries to strengthen the supply chain, including the cold chain system to ensure that every child has timely access to safe and potent vaccines. Rotary Project Director, James Allen, has been leading Rotary fundraising in Australia and New Zealand, and said, “… we’re proud of the contribution we have made to protect children and adolescents in the region against life-threatening illnesses including pneumonia, diarrhea, and cervical cancer.” To date, fundraisers from Rotary have contributed US$3.9 million, through the project implemented by UNICEF, in cooperation with the nations’ Ministries of Health and supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
With a high burden of cervical cancer cases in the Pacific, most of which are attributed to HPV infection, the introduction of HPV Vaccine for adolescent girls will contribute to the reduction of preventable deaths. UNICEF will continue to support routine immunization programs in the Pacific island countries, through strengthening effective vaccine management practices, engaging communities to create vaccine demand and the procurement and delivery of quality as well as effective vaccines at an affordable cost to the governments. UNICEF remains committed to ensuring that all children and adolescents have good health, well-being and reach their full potential.” Submitted by: Christopher W Knapp, District 6000 Foundation Chair #maternalhealth #childhealth #Rotary #ServiceAboveSelf #rotaryinternational #GiveEveryChildAFuture