聯合國兒童基金會表揚善長對保障兒童健康的貢獻 | 最新消息 | 訊息中心 | 聯合國兒童基金香港委員會 UNICEF Hong Kong

聯合國兒童基金會表揚善長對保障兒童健康的貢獻

2011-06-13

倫敦／香港，2011年6月13日——全球疫苗與免疫聯盟（GAVI）在今日於倫敦舉行籌募大會，一共籌得善款逾港幣335億元（即43億美元）。聯合國兒童基金會（UNICEF）表示，大會上各界善長慷慨解囊，他們無私的奉獻將惠及全球數以百萬計最貧困、最脆弱的兒童。

現時全球有達82%的兒童獲得接種疫苗的機會，然而，同一個地球上，每5名兒童仍有1名由於居住在偏遠、難接觸的社區，預防疫苗無法送達，他們生命隨時面臨可預防疾病的威脅。雖然在多年的努力下，減少全球兒童死亡率的工作上已取得重大進展，但目前每年仍有近200萬名兒童因可預防的疾病而去世。

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.

這次籌募大會的成績令人鼓舞，為全球兒童帶來天大的喜訊。籌得的善款將救助世界上生命最岌岌可危的兒童。」UNICEF執行主任安東尼•雷克說：「UNICEF將履行本會的承諾，進一步加強力度協助政府及其他合作機構，將疫苗送抵最偏遠的社區，主動接觸兒童。」

UNICEF作為GAVI的創會成員，為全球近6成兒童提供疫苗接種，UNICEF同時在哥本哈根設立供應部，在國際間擔當著購置疫苗的領導角色，致力保障全球疫苗市場的健康及安全。

在2010，本會便為GAVI和發展中的國家購入近25億3千萬劑，價值港幣58.5億元（即7億5千萬美元）的傳統疫苗及新型疫苗。此外，UNICEF亦與多個世界衞生組織認可的疫苗供應商合作制訂全面的疫苗購置策略，包括：防止疫苗壟斷發生；準確預測未來幾年全球疫苗的需求量，以商議較低的疫苗價格及確保供應穩定；以及確保疫苗安全及準時送抵各地。

為了確保疫苗能夠得到妥善運用，UNICEF並與各國政府緊密合作，協助他們運用疫苗冷藏系統（左圖）將疫苗運送至有需要的社區、培訓疫苗接種員，及確保護理人員認識免疫力的重要性和增強免疫力的方法。

GAVI、UNICEF和其他合作機構今後將繼續共同努力，為全球兒童加強新型和傳統疫苗的接種，目標至2015年底，拯救多400萬名兒童的生命。聯合國兒童基金會執行主任安東尼•雷克指出：「GAVI的成功便是我們的成功，也是所有向着此共同目標不斷努力的人士的成功。」