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Contra Costa Times

Letters from our readers
Contra Costa Times
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Save Children

In 2010, UNICEF estimated an average of 25,000 children under age 5 die each day “mostly from causes preventable with low-cost, proven interventions.” Among those interventions are new immunizations against rotavirus and pneumococcal disease. If these immunizations were made available around the world, they would save an estimated 4.2 million children’s lives.

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) was created in 2000. GAVI uses a collaborative approach with business, nonprofits, and governments working together and market forces to drive down costs. Since its creation, GAVI has enabled 250 million children to be vaccinated and saved an estimated 5 million lives.

On June 13, donor nations will meet and pledge funding to continue operation. Congress should urge President Barack Obama to pledge $450 million over three years at that meeting, and appropriate the funding to fulfill that pledge.

Some say we need to help our children first. In today’s global economy, the lives of our children and those overseas are bound like strands in a rope.

Strengthen some strands and the weak will still break the rope. To provide for our children’s future, we must also provide for the children around the world.

Jim Driggers
Concord

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