MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
'The lives of thousands of children in Nepal are being saved by
Australian funded child health programs.', the Parliamentary Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, Mrs Chris Gallus, said today.
'Australia will contribute a further $2 million to vitamin
supplementation programs that saved the lives of more than 35,000 children in
2001,' Mrs Gallus said.
'More than 950,000 Nepalese children under the age of five have
been given bi-annual high doses of Vitamin A capsules since 1999.
'Children with Vitamin A deficiency are more likely to die from
diarrhoea, measles and malnutrition and are vulnerable to night blindness,'
Mrs Gallus said.
'Australia's aid efforts have contributed to a 30 per cent decrease
in child mortality and are protecting thousands of Nepalese children against
disease.
'Australian funding will also provide materials, medicines and training
to more than 3,000 volunteer health workers and educate women and children
about the benefits of Vitamin A rich food.
'Australian aid is critical to improving basic health services in Nepal
and has now provided more than $4 million to Nepal's Vitamin A and
pneumonia detection and treatment programs since 1999,' Mrs Gallus
said.
Media contacts:
Shane Fairlie (Mrs Gallus' office) 02 6277 4840 or 0408 680 442
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489