Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Toronto — The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will provide UNICEF with $46.5 million, the bulk of which will help ensure the health and survival of children, primarily in Africa. The Minister made the announcement during the launch of UNICEF Canada's 50th anniversary report on global child survival and health.
"The world has made incredible strides over the past five decades to ensure that children grow up strong and healthy," said Minister Verner. "Yet every day, 29,000 children under the age of five still die from preventable causes. We cannot allow this to continue."
Of the funding announced today, $19 million will go towards helping local communities deliver integrated, front-line services for child health and nutrition, primarily in Africa. This will include support for annual or semi-annual Child Health Days or Weeks, including the distribution of Vitamin A, which is a cornerstone of these events.
In response to the urgent health situation in Ethiopia, UNICEF will receive $17.5 million to provide an essential package of life-saving health interventions there, such as measles immunization, pneumonia and diarrhea treatments, and related health and nutrition programming. This project will contribute to strengthening health systems and training of front-line health workers in Ethiopia and help to reduce the disease burden attributable to life-threatening illnesses.
The provision and distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets, the most cost-effective method of preventing malaria deaths, can protect families against malaria for at least three years for as little as seven dollars. Today's funding will provide $9 million to UNICEF to distribute over 1.2 million mosquito nets for households with children in malaria-affected areas of Ethiopia. This support is expected to prevent over 10,000 child deaths from malaria over the next three years. Canada continues to be be a world leader in financing mosquito net programs.
In recent years, CIDA has ranked among the top donors to global health initiatives in such key areas as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, polio, malaria, immunization, and micronutrients — and CIDA has achieved concrete results. Canada is the lead donor for vitamin A, which has been shown to reduce child deaths by 23 percent and to prevent blindness. Since 1998, UNICEF estimates that vitamin A programs have saved the lives of some 2.1 million children. UNICEF has assessed that over seven million children have been born free of mental impairments caused by iodine deficiency, largely because of Canada's contributions.
Of the total funding announced today, CIDA will provide $1 million to UNICEF Canada for a three-year Public Engagement Program to inform Canadian teachers about the key issues affecting children in the developing world, and provide quality print, electronic and on-line learning resources on these issues. It will also offer young Canadians opportunities to actively engage in international development in support of the world's vulnerable children.
"Each year in Africa, millions of children under five die from malaria, pneumonia, measles, and other preventable illnesses," added Minister Verner. "Canada is committed to global child survival and health — not just today, but every day. We will continue to be a lead donor to reduce child deaths in developing nations."
The funding is part of a two-pronged Agenda for Action on Global Health, announced in September 2005. First, Canada is stepping up efforts to prevent and control diseases linked to poverty with a particular focus on reaching children and marginalized populations, and addressing gender inequalities and reproductive health. Second, Canada is working with developing country partners to strengthen health systems to help reduce the burden of disease.
Funding for this initiative is built into the existing fiscal framework.
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Information:
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: (819) 953-6534
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
