GAVI Alliance Says Vaccination Programmes Avert 3.4 Million Deaths

Public-private alliance GAVI has revealed that immunisation programmes against meningitis and hepatitis in the world's poorest countries will have averted 3.4 million deaths by the end of the year.

The alliance, set up by IT magnate Bill Gates and funded by donor governments, international institutions and private philanthropists, also said that 213 million children will have been reached with GAVI-supported vaccines in the period 2000-2008.

Meningitis - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Meninges are the three layers of membrane that cover the brain and infection of the cerebrospinal fluid between them causes meningitis the disease of the meninges.

"These numbers show the positive results of investment in human lives," said GAVI Executive Secretary Julien Lob-Levyt, urging donors to continue to support the programmes despite the current global economic crisis.

"Only through long-term predictable funding can we guarantee that poor countries are able to improve their immunisation programmes in order to save lives," he said.

GAVI made its latest projections on the basis of new data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which monitors the projected impact of the alliance's programmes in 76 developing countries.

Hib Vaccine - Types, Dosage Schedule, Contraindications and Side Effects
The Hib vaccine protects children against infections like meningitis and pneumonia that are caused by the Haemophilus influenzae type b bacterium.

In its latest progress report, the alliance said that the cumulative number of children benefiting from three doses of the so-called Hib vaccine (against a particularly deadly strain of meningitis - Haemophilus influenzae type B) is projected to rise to 41.7 million by the end of 2008, up from 28.2 million one year earlier.

Hib kills around 400,000 children under the age of five each year, mostly in the developing world.

Immunization
Protect your child from various deadly diseases by giving the vaccinations at the right age. This tool helps you schedule the vaccinations of your child.

Similarly, the hepatitis B vaccine is projected to reach a total 192.2 million children by the year's end, up from 155.7 million previously.

"With 2.5 million deaths averted through vaccination against hepatitis B alone, this is GAVI's single biggest success story," the alliance said.

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GAVI said in March that hib meningitis had been virtually wiped out in Uganda thanks to its vaccination programmes.

Source-AFP
RAS/SK