Menu
09/09/2005
Millions of children to benefit from vaccination
Millions of children around the world are set to benefit from a plan to provide funding for vaccination programmes in developing countries.
The funding initiative will provide an initial £2 billion over a ten-year period to fund health programmes to cut deaths from many common childhood illnesses such as polio, measles, and diphtheria.
Chancellor Gordon Brown along with European finance ministers will launch a complex finance scheme that will in effect provide a loan to developing countries that will allow them to fund more extensive communicable disease programmes for children.
The funding provided under the auspices of an International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) will be offset against future health funding repayments and has already been criticised as a "buy now, pay later" package for poorer countries.
The UK has pledged £70 million to the finance scheme and other European countries are to unveil their contributions to the scheme today at a meeting of ministers in Manchester.
The Gates Foundation, set up by the billionaire boss of Microsoft, Bill Gates, and his wife Melinda, has pledged US$750 million (£408m) towards the programme over ten years.
The governments of the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden have pledged commitments to fund IFFIm, which will support childhood vaccine programmes through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
In a statement today, Bill Gates said the commitments announced would provide a "major boost to GAVI’s work to ensure that all children - no matter where they are born - have access to lifesaving vaccines".
He commended the governments for their generosity, and Gordon Brown in particular for his "tireless work to make this announcement possible".
He said that it was "unacceptable" that each year 27 million children go without immunizations that are "taken for granted" in rich countries.
Mr Gates said that he hoped other donor governments would come on board to support IFFIm.
Commending the scheme, Mr Brown said that the 10 million lives could be saved and that millions of families could be "spared the agony of a loved one needlessly dying".
However, the finance scheme is not without its critics. Concern has been voiced over the huge borrowing that some countries would have to make and subsequent repayments that would have to be made.
The US administration is not in favour of the IFFIm scheme.
(SP/MB)
The funding initiative will provide an initial £2 billion over a ten-year period to fund health programmes to cut deaths from many common childhood illnesses such as polio, measles, and diphtheria.
Chancellor Gordon Brown along with European finance ministers will launch a complex finance scheme that will in effect provide a loan to developing countries that will allow them to fund more extensive communicable disease programmes for children.
The funding provided under the auspices of an International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) will be offset against future health funding repayments and has already been criticised as a "buy now, pay later" package for poorer countries.
The UK has pledged £70 million to the finance scheme and other European countries are to unveil their contributions to the scheme today at a meeting of ministers in Manchester.
The Gates Foundation, set up by the billionaire boss of Microsoft, Bill Gates, and his wife Melinda, has pledged US$750 million (£408m) towards the programme over ten years.
The governments of the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden have pledged commitments to fund IFFIm, which will support childhood vaccine programmes through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
In a statement today, Bill Gates said the commitments announced would provide a "major boost to GAVI’s work to ensure that all children - no matter where they are born - have access to lifesaving vaccines".
He commended the governments for their generosity, and Gordon Brown in particular for his "tireless work to make this announcement possible".
He said that it was "unacceptable" that each year 27 million children go without immunizations that are "taken for granted" in rich countries.
Mr Gates said that he hoped other donor governments would come on board to support IFFIm.
Commending the scheme, Mr Brown said that the 10 million lives could be saved and that millions of families could be "spared the agony of a loved one needlessly dying".
However, the finance scheme is not without its critics. Concern has been voiced over the huge borrowing that some countries would have to make and subsequent repayments that would have to be made.
The US administration is not in favour of the IFFIm scheme.
(SP/MB)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 November 2008
Free School Meals For Scottish Kids
The Scottish Parliament is expected to pass a Bill that will allow local authorities to supply free meals to primary school children. Councils will be able to provide dinners to kids during their first three years of education, in a scheme that could be rolled out by 2010.
Free School Meals For Scottish Kids
The Scottish Parliament is expected to pass a Bill that will allow local authorities to supply free meals to primary school children. Councils will be able to provide dinners to kids during their first three years of education, in a scheme that could be rolled out by 2010.
05 August 2004
Police forces face cash crisis, Tories claim
Police forces across Britain are facing funding shortfalls running into millions of pounds, the Tories have claimed today.
Police forces face cash crisis, Tories claim
Police forces across Britain are facing funding shortfalls running into millions of pounds, the Tories have claimed today.
05 November 2003
Fall in food aid funding could see millions starve
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has said today that funding for its operations in southern Africa was at less than half of what was needed and unless donations pick up some 6.5 million people "will face severe hunger".
Fall in food aid funding could see millions starve
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has said today that funding for its operations in southern Africa was at less than half of what was needed and unless donations pick up some 6.5 million people "will face severe hunger".
30 October 2015
Monitor Launches Investigation Into Trust's £12.6m Deficit
Health sector regulator Monitor has opened an investigation at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals over its financial deficit of £12.6 million. The organisation is concerned that the trust may record a large loss for 2015/16 rather than the £2.2m surplus it had previously predicted.
Monitor Launches Investigation Into Trust's £12.6m Deficit
Health sector regulator Monitor has opened an investigation at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals over its financial deficit of £12.6 million. The organisation is concerned that the trust may record a large loss for 2015/16 rather than the £2.2m surplus it had previously predicted.
18 December 2014
Govt To Announce Local Council Funding For 2015-16
The government is due to announce later today council funding grants for 2015-16. Councils have previously been warned that they will be facing average cuts of 1.8%, with the Local Government Association warning that services would "buckle under the strain".
Govt To Announce Local Council Funding For 2015-16
The government is due to announce later today council funding grants for 2015-16. Councils have previously been warned that they will be facing average cuts of 1.8%, with the Local Government Association warning that services would "buckle under the strain".
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
