The Global Alliance and Vaccine Immunization (GAVI) through the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has procured 28 vehicles worth over $14 million to strengthen health delivery activities across Malawi.
Speaking in the Malawian capital Lilongwe on Wednesday, UNICEF Resident Representative Currie Aurie said the vehicles will go a long way in boosting Malawi’s progress towards improved health for all children.
“Malawi has already made a significant progress in reducing neonatal, infant and under-five mortality rates compared to other countries in the region,” she said.
If these trends continue, she added, Malawi will achieve the Millennium Development Goal of a two-thirds reduction in child mortality by 2015.
She observed that the achievements are not by accident but as a result from sustained political will, hard work and the concerted efforts of government and its partners to make low cost, high impact interventions widely available to all Malawians.
The Minister of Health Moses Chirambo said his government greatly appreciated the continued support GAVI was providing to Malawi.
GAVI started giving support to Malawi in 2001, and during its Phase1 of 2001 to 2006 the country received support for the introduction of pentavalent vaccine worth over $30 million and financial support of $100,000 to facilitate activities leading to the introduction of the vaccine in the country. Between 2005 and 2008, the country received injection supplies worth $8 million.
Source African Press Agency
