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Government of Japan donation will improve child health across Sudan

US$5.8 million grant to UNICEF will strengthen efforts to tackle preventable diseases

The funds will be used to provide an essential package of primary health care services, benefiting some 5.5 million people, including:

• Provision of life-saving vaccines and immunization equipment.
• The supply of 150,000 Long Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets and medical treatments against malaria.
• The provision of drug kits for primary health care centres.
• The provision of oral rehydration salts and medicines to treat children affected by water-borne diseases.
• Surveys and surveillance systems for neo-natal tetanus.
• Support for training of health workers on diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as malaria.
• Public awareness and information campaigns to encourage communities to better protect their children’s health.

Announcing the contribution, His Excellency Yuichi Ishii, Ambassador of Japan to Sudan underlined the commitment of his country to fighting infectious diseases throughout Sudan.

“The Government of Japan has been supporting infectious disease prevention for children in Sudan through UNICEF since 2000. I sincerely hope that Japan’s contribution will support extensively to the continued efforts by UNICEF, the Government of the Sudan and implementing partners in preventing infectious diseases in Sudan,” Ambassador Ishii said.

Thanking the Government of Japan for its continued support, UNICEF Representative to Sudan Ted Chaiban stressed that primary health care services were an essential tool in Sudan’s efforts to strengthen child survival and development.

“Sudan has recorded significant progress in protecting children’s health since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” he said. “Last year alone, UNICEF and partners such as WHO have been proud to support the vaccination of 8.9 million children against polio, 3.5 million children against measles, as well as distributing 910,000 bed nets to protect families from malaria. As part of the Sudan Accelerated Child Survival Initiative, we will continue to support these vital initiatives as we help to develop packages of integrated community-based health care that are proven to save children’s lives.”

According to the 2006 Sudan Household Health Survey, under-five mortality rates in Sudan have fallen from 156 deaths per 1,000 live births prior to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to 112. However less than one-third of children in Sudan are immunized against all the major diseases, more than half of women are not protected against neo-natal tetanus, and less than one-fifth of families have access to bed nets to protect against malaria.

Tackling childhood diseases through simple cost-effective measures such as immunization will help to continue that reduction; in other African countries investment in such child survival efforts have resulted in an average reduction in child mortality rates of 20 per cent.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For more information, please contact:
Edward Carwardine, Senior Communication Officer, UNICEF Sudan, Mobile:  +249 (0)912 177 291 Email: ecarwardine@unicef.org
Bismarck Swangin, Communication Officer, UNICEF Southern Sudan Area Programme, Thuraya: +882 1643 339 905 Email: bswangin@unicef.org