South Africa: World Bank Welcomes First Delivery of Gavi/Global Fund Vaccines

6 April 2001
World Bank (Washington, DC)
press release

Washington — The World Bank today welcomed a delivery of life-saving vaccines to Mozambique, the first African country to benefit from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and the Global Fund for Children's Vaccines.

Mozambique, a country with one of the highest rates of child mortality in the world, will receive combination vaccine DTP-hepB, worth an estimated $1.5 million.

"Mozambique is today taking an important step forward in paving the way for a healthier future for its citizens," said World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn. "Immunization is one of the most cost-effective health interventions. With the first vaccines delivered through the Global Fund, we are seeing the very real change GAVI is beginning to make for people and communities. Vaccines are an excellent way to protect people against disease, and we know that preventing disease helps protect children and their families from falling into poverty."

Friday's delivery brought the first half of 1.3 million doses to Mozambique, some of which will go to a village near the capital of Maputo where infants will be immunized against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and hepatitis B. Mozambique is one of 25 countries to secure support from GAVI and the Global Fund after a first review of country proposals.

GAVI is a coalition of organizations formed in 1999 in response to stagnating global immunization rates and widening disparities in vaccine access among industrialized and developing countries. GAVI partners include: national governments, the Gates Children's Vaccine Program at PATH, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA), research and public health institutions, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, UNICEF, the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Global Fund received an initial $750 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has since received support from governments and other donors.

"The contribution that GAVI has made to Mozambique and the other countries in this first round of vaccine delivery has helped to catalyze attention to vaccines," said Wolfensohn. "Still more will be required--financially and otherwise--to build up and maintain strong immunization programs in all of these countries. Over the long haul, financial sustainability of well- functioning immunization and health systems is key. It's also the best way to reach the poor and those most in need."

To learn more about the World Bank's work on vaccines, visit www.worldbank.org/vaccines To learn more about GAVI and the Global Fund, visit www.vaccinealliance.org

Contact Person: Andrew Kircher (202) 473-6313 Akircher@worldbank.org Stevan Jackson (202) 458-5054 Sjackson@worldbank.org

Copyright © 2001 World Bank. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 800 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.