The Ministry of Finance is pleased to announce that South Africa will contribute US$1 million over 20 years to the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). South Africa joins seven other countries that already contribute to this facility in order to prevent child deaths. These seven countries are Brazil, France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
In 2003, an estimated 10.5 million children died before reaching the age of five, many from diseases that are already vaccine preventable. Over 27 million did not receive immunisation in their first year of life, making them vulnerable to infectious diseases in childhood and during the productive years of adulthood.
The IFFIm's efforts will therefore contribute substantially in curbing child deaths through child immunisation programs. It has been estimated that US$4 billion spent over 15 years, without frontloading, would save about 2.5 million lives before 2015. By frontloading US$4 billion over 10 years through the IFFIm mechanism, an estimated 5 million lives could be saved by 2015, and a further 5 million adult lives 20 years later. It is anticipated that of the total lives to be saved a significant number will be in Africa and Asia. In total 41 African countries are likely to benefit, of which nine are in the SADC region.
This commitment by South Africa and Brazil to support the IFFIm demonstrates the political will by emerging economies in addressing the problems of global poverty.