The UK Government has announced a commitment of £1.25 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which will help protect up to 500 million children from some of the world’s deadliest diseases like meningitis, cholera and measles.
Moazzam Malik, CEO of Save the Children UK, welcomed the commitment to funding. He said: “This investment in international cooperation will help reach 1.5m children who die every year from diseases that can be easily prevented by vaccines. This is a vital investment in the future of children all round the world. By strengthening global health, Gavi’s work also helps ease the infectious disease burden facing the NHS, freeing up resources for other needs.
“The UK helped found Gavi. Gavi has vaccinated more than 1.1 billion children worldwide and saved 18.8 million lives. Today, a child born in a Gavi-supported country is 70% less likely to die from a vaccine-preventable disease before their fifth birthday than they were when the Alliance began. Each $1 spent on immunisation brings $54 in wider economic benefits. In Sudan, Save the Children’s partnership with Gavi has enabled us to resume services in 194 villages where key vaccinations were not being delivered because of the conflict. More than 21,000 ‘zero-dose’ children were reached in the first three months of this year alone.
“Today’s commitment demonstrates the continuing need to invest in international cooperation to tackle global challenges. Whilst the UK government’s planned cut to UK aid to 0.3% of GNI will have a profound impact over the coming years, Gavi shows what’s possible: UK aid can make children everywhere healthier and safer.”