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联合国儿童基金会表扬善长对保障儿童健康的贡献

2011-06-13

伦敦／香港，2011年6月13日——全球疫苗与免疫联盟（GAVI）在今日于伦敦举行筹募大会，一共筹得善款逾港币335亿元（即43亿美元）。联合国儿童基金会（UNICEF）表示，大会上各界善长慷慨解囊，他们无私的奉献将惠及全球数以百万计最贫困、最脆弱的儿童。

现时全球有达82%的儿童获得接种疫苗的机会，然而，同一个地球上，每5名儿童仍有1名由于居住在偏远、难接触的社区，预防疫苗无法送达，他们生命随时面临可预防疾病的威胁。虽然在多年的努力下，减少全球儿童死亡率的工作上已取得重大进展，但目前每年仍有近200万名儿童因可预防的疾病而去世。

A boy receives a measles vaccination at a temporary clinic in Lalomanu, a village on the eastern coast of Upolu, one of Samoas two main islands. The measles vaccination campaign aims to reach 32,000 children, between the ages of six months and five years, throughout the country. UNICEF is providing essential equipment for the campaign, including vaccines, Vitamin A, syringes and cold-chain equipment. The World Health Organization is providing technical and logistical support. In October 2009 in Samoa, some 3,200 people remain displaced by a tsunami that killed over 140 people on 29 September. The tsunami was triggered by an 8.3-magnitude earthquake on the ocean floor approximately 190 kilometres from Apia, the capital. Coastal villages on Upolu, one of the countrys two main islands, and the small islet of Manono experienced extensive damage. Schools and houses were destroyed, and 10 per cent of subsistence agricultural production was lost due to damaged livestock, gardens and equipment. The destruction leaves affected communities, most of which were already impoverished, increasingly vulnerable. Of the countrys 88,000 children, an estimated 9,000 are affected by the tsunami, including 2,000 who are displaced. Many of the displaced are living in inland camps, where they face increased risk of disease outeaks. The displacement has exacerbated existing problems with water safety; even under normal circumstances, 12 per cent of the countrys 187,000 people lack access to an improved water source. UNICEF is responding by providing safe drinking water, rehydration salts, soap, hygiene kits, vaccines and other essential supplies to the displaced.

这次筹募大会的成绩令人鼓舞，为全球儿童带来天大的喜讯。筹得的善款将救助世界上生命最岌岌可危的儿童。」UNICEF执行主任安东尼•雷克说：「UNICEF将履行本会的承诺，进一步加强力度协助政府及其他合作机构，将疫苗送抵最偏远的社区，主动接触儿童。」

UNICEF作为GAVI的创会成员，为全球近6成儿童提供疫苗接种，UNICEF同时在哥本哈根设立供应部，在国际间担当着购置疫苗的领导角色，致力保障全球疫苗市场的健康及安全。

在2010，本会便为GAVI和发展中的国家购入近25亿3千万剂，价值港币58.5亿元（即7亿5千万美元）的传统疫苗及新型疫苗。此外，UNICEF亦与多个世界衞生组织认可的疫苗供应商合作制订全面的疫苗购置策略，包括：防止疫苗垄断发生；准确预测未来几年全球疫苗的需求量，以商议较低的疫苗价格及确保供应稳定；以及确保疫苗安全及准时送抵各地。

为了确保疫苗能够得到妥善运用，UNICEF並与各国政府紧密合作，协助他们运用疫苗冷藏系统（左图）将疫苗运送至有需要的社区、培训疫苗接种员，及确保护理人员认识免疫力的重要性和增强免疫力的方法。

GAVI、UNICEF和其他合作机构今后将继续共同努力，为全球儿童加强新型和传统疫苗的接种，目标至2015年底，拯救多400万名儿童的生命。联合国儿童基金会执行主任安东尼•雷克指出：「GAVI的成功便是我们的成功，也是所有向着此共同目标不断努力的人士的成功。」