Australia Helps Reduce Infant and Maternal Mortality in Cambodia

MEDIA RELEASE

Released By:
Sullivan

I am pleased to announce that the Australian Government will
make a further contribution to a major health programme in Cambodia aimed at
reducing high rates of infant and maternal mortality.

Cambodia has one of the highest rates of deaths among
infants and mothers in Asia, often from easily preventable diseases.

Estimated rates of infant mortality are 105 per 1,000 live
births, and maternal mortality are 9 per 1,000 births.

In contrast, Australia's infant mortality rate is 6 per
1,000 live births and our maternal mortality rate is so small it that it is
statistically insignificant.

The UNICEF Cambodia Expanded Programme on Immunisation began
in 1986 and has received support from many organisations including substantial
contributions from the Governments of Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom,
the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.

From 1988 to 1996, Australia's contribution of over $9
million made it the largest single donor to the Programme.

The Programme aims to reduce sickness and death due to six
diseases tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles and
poliomyelitis by immunising pregnant women and all infants under one year
old.

To help reduce these deaths the Howard Government will
further contribute up to $3million over the period 1998-2002 to Cambodia's
Expanded Programme of Immunisation

Australia's contribution will be made through the
Government's aid agency, AusAID.