Secretary-General, in Remarks to Global Vaccines Alliance, Says Increased Funding

 

Can Build World of ‘Healthy Children, Productive Adults, Stable Societies’

 

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to mark the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation’s (GAVI) call for action and resources, in New York, 5 October:

I am very pleased to be with you this evening.

Earlier today, I chaired the Third Global Fund Replenishment Conference.

Many of you were there.

Programmes supported by the Fund have saved nearly 6 million lives.

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation has prevented a similar number of deaths in its first 10 years.

GAVI and the Global Fund are central pillars of global public health.  Both are essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Two weeks ago, world leaders met here to take stock of progress on the MDGs.

One of our main aims was to showcase success stories, so that we could take what works and scale it up.

One thing stood out: our advances in fighting killer diseases.  We have come a long way.

But we still have a long way to go.

During the MDG summit, I launched a Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health. 

By improving the health of hundreds of millions of women and children around the world, we can improve the lives of all people.

And now, for the first time, we have an agreed game plan.  All 192 Member States have welcomed the Global Strategy.

More than $40 billion has been committed — by governments, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, religious organizations and civil society.

This is just the beginning.  We expect additional commitments.

This is a living strategy, with a vibrant and growing support base.

All partners have agreed to develop a robust accountability framework to track commitments and results.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) will lead this effort.

By making the most of our partnerships, by empowering others to lead, by promoting innovation on all fronts, we can get “more health for our money”.

Immunization — and all the work of the GAVI Alliance — is a key part of our strategy.

You have the knowledge, the networks and the resources to influence the health and well-being of millions of people.

You are poised to accelerate the introduction of life-saving vaccines — a plan that can prevent more than 4 million future deaths, the child who will live without risk of pneumonia, the girl who will never have to suffer cervical cancer, the millions of women and men who will be saved by a simple injection.

The past two weeks have highlighted the opportunity before us, to build a world of healthy children, productive adults, stable societies.

Let us seize this opportunity.

Let us commit to increasing the funds available to the GAVI Alliance.

Let us commit to improving health for children, women and men everywhere.

For my part, I will continue to be a passionate global health advocate.

I thank you for all your hard work, your leadership and commitment for the results you produce and for the hope you provide.

I wish you a successful meeting.

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For information media • not an official record