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Striving for more success: Japan donates US$1.9million to Zimbabwean children
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
January 09, 2008

Building on Zimbabwe's successes in malaria prevention and immunisation coverage, the Government of Japan today donated US$1,9 million to the children of Zimbabwe.

The Japanese contribution through UNICEF comes on top of the US$2,5million it donated for similar programmes in 2007. It will enable Zimbabwe to further its progress in improving child mortality rates and increasing immunisation coverage, as well as boosting successful efforts to roll-back malaria.

Immunisation coverage has risen from 60% in 2001 to 80% today, while the number of cases of malaria has fallen by 40% in the last few years, from three million to 1.8million.

"Recent successes show progress is possible if support is provided and sustained and if we continue to act with urgency to scale-up interventions," said UNICEF Representative Dr. Festo Kavishe. "The Japanese Government has shown itself to be a constant and assiduous supporter of Zimbabwe's children."

Through these funds from the Japanese, UNICEF will complement Government efforts in promoting Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs) in the seven high malaria endemic districts of Kadoma, Zaka, Hwange, Makoni, Chimanimani, Mutasa and Mt Darwin. This project will benefit over 150,000 children under five years, more than 50,000 pregnant women and more than a million 'secondary' beneficiaries living in the seven districts. This year's persistent rains increase the threat of malaria given half of all Zimbabweans live in malarial areas.

These funds will also support the Government-run Zimbabwe Expanded Programme on Immunisation (ZEPI) and boost the procurement of all seven antigens vaccines for immunisation, cold chain equipment for vaccine storage and technical support to the health workers

"We are very glad to be associated with UNICEF," said the Ambassador to Japan, His Excellency, Mr Takeo Yoshikawa. "We hope that the grant will enable Zimbabwe to achieve two of the Millennium Development Goals, of reducing under-five mortality by two-thirds by 2015, and combating HIV, malaria and other infectious diseases."

In the last few years, Japan has been one of Zimbabwe's most important partners in immunisation efforts and malaria prevention, helping to procure vaccines and more than 210,000 LLITNs in 2007 alone for communities across the country.

"Investment in immunisation and malaria prevention are two areas where we know we can have a dramatic good impact on the health of children and women," said UNICEF's Dr Kavishe. "We are extremely grateful to the Government of Japan for their ongoing support."

UNICEF also noted that several challenges remain to improving the overall health situation for children and women in Zimbabwe. The health infrastructure is deteriorating, hospitals are operating with around half of the required staff and drugs are scarce.

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