Canada’s proven and effective Canadian International Immunization Initiative program (CIII) has expired with no new commitment in sight. Raise your voice to ensure children in the developing world don’t die from preventable disease we immunize our own children against.
Minister Oda made an announcement in May 2009 positioning Canada to become a leader on children and youth. Basic immunization is one of the most cost-effective life-saving foreign aid programs in existence. It should be held up as a clear example of Canadian aid at its best, especially at a time when the effectiveness of aid is often questioned and the global need is so great. Call on the Minister to increase and extend Canada’s funding for the Canadian International Immunizations Initiative which emphasizes basic immunizations. Ask that she renew and increase funding for CIII to at least $50 million a year.
CIDA spends approximately 2% of its overall budget, or $70 million annually, on water and sanitation. It is estimated that a mere 10% of that is focused on sanitation and hygiene promotion, while the bulk is focused on water related programs. Hand washing with soap is the most cost effective health intervention in the world. A mere $3.35 spent on hand washing programs is the equivalent in terms of health benefits to over $200 in a household water connection. If CIDA is truly committed to an aid effectiveness agenda that positions children as a priority as announced in May 2009, then hygiene promotion is an important part of the solution. Canada has an opportunity to be a real leader internationally on child health issues by investing an initial funding commitment of $10-15 million to the Global Sanitation Fund. The world's children cannot wait any longer.
Diarrhoea kills babies every day, so let's make sure parliamentarians are aware of this tragedy. Make a difference and send this e-card http://www.wsscc.org/en/e-cards/diarrhoea-kills-babies-every-day/index.htm to your Member of Parliament. Find your MP’s email address: www.parl.gc.ca
By creating the Catalytic Initiative to Save a Million Lives in November 2007, Canada made an important investment to improve the health of young children and their mothers. The Catalytic Initiative (CI) strengthens health systems by delivering life-saving health and nutritional services to children and pregnant women to reduce child and maternal mortality such as: basic emergency obstetric care, breastfeeding promotion, prevention of mother-to child transmission of HIV, immunization, micro-nutrients, and oral rehydration therapy to treat diarrhea. Yet, still 25,000 children and 1,500 pregnant mothers die each day of preventable causes. Now that Canada has made child and maternal health the signature development theme of the 2010 G8 Muskoka Summit, the most effective demonstration of this commitment would be an increased investment in the expansion of the CI and encouraging other G8 counties to pledge the same.
Explain how vital increasing Canada’s investment in the CI would be to saving the children of the world and encourage Prime Minister Harper that this should be the focus of the G8. By expanding the scope of interventions and geographic reach of the CI, Canada can be a leader in saving the lives of millions more children and their mothers. Have a strong voice but a positive tone when writing your letters to the editor.
Once every three years, countries are asked to pledge new money to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM): 2010 is a replenishment year for the Global Fund. Since its inception in 2002, the Global Fund has provided over $18 billion in investments to 144 countries to fund programs that fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in countries with a burden of 1 or more of the diseases. Tell Canada’s Government that you support a bold pledge for the Global Fund that will support cost-effective programs that save lives from these deadly infectious diseases.
Over the past three years (2008-2010), Canada has made annual contributions of $150 million to the Global Fund. As a demand driven institution, over time, the Global Fund has seen increased demand for funds from technically sound proposals that would save lives. As demand increases, so too should Canada’s commitment. It is not just a matter of reaching more than the 5.4 million people who have received TB treatment or the users of 88 million bednets distributed through the Fund, replenishment funds and making bold pledges is about continuing the treatment for the 2.3 million people the Fund has already helped access HIV/AIDS anti-retrovirals (ARVs).
Call on Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to be prepared to make a bold pledge that is equal to 5% of what the Global Fund determines as demand for the next 3 years during the 2010 replenishment. Send your letter postage-free to: The Honourable Jim Flaherty, House of Commons, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
