MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
The Australian Government today announced it would provide $2 million to
immunise Cambodian women and children against six preventable diseases.
The targets of the program will be measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus,
whooping cough and tuberculosis.
The diseases will also be monitored to provide essential information for
future program planning, according to the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, Mrs Chris Gallus, MP.
'Our aid program is committed to the health and development of women and
children in Cambodia, particularly in rural areas,' she said.
'The economic impact of endemic disease on a developing country economy is
huge. Immunisation is therefore a highly cost effective public health
intervention in reducing poverty at both the family and national levels.
'Australian funds will be used to buy equipment and vaccines, cover transport
costs and pay for health centre staff.'
Mrs Gallus said the latest funding was a continuation of Australian support
for Cambodia's Expanded Program of Immunisation (EPI).
As a partner in the EPI since 1986, Australia has contributed a total of $13
million. The EPI supports the Royal Government of Cambodia's National
Immunisation Program Strategy 2001-2005 and is implemented by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF.
Mrs Gallus said the EPI program was a cost effective and efficient mechanism
that was having a positive impact across Cambodia.
She added: 'The success of the campaign can be demonstrated by the fact that
the last reported case of polio in Cambodia was notified in 1997 and Cambodia
was officially certified as polio-free by the WHO in 2000.'
Media contact:
Craig Bildstien (Office of Mrs Gallus) 0407 604 437
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960/042 804