UNICEF’s PARTNERSHIP WITH MILLENNIUM ARMENIAN CHILDREN’S VACCINATION FUND HELPS SAVE CHILDREN’S LIVES

Armenpress
Sept 19, 2005

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Partnering with Armenian Diaspora
organizations such as the Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccination
Fund (MACVF) is crucial for successful implementation of programs
benefiting children, UNICEF said today, speaking of the importance
of the vaccination program in Armenia.

“UNICEF values highly its partners in the Diaspora, and one of our
most important partnerships in Armenia is with the Millennium Armenian
Children’s Vaccination Fund. Financial support to UNICEF from MACVF
has enabled us to procure essential vaccines for Armenian children
and has helped to sustain the high immunization rate in the country,”
UNICEF Representative, Sheldon Yett noted.

UNICEF and the Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccination Fund sealed
a long-term partnership agreement in 2002 in order to support the
implementation of the National Immunization Program in Armenia. The
agreement covers the 2002-2009 period during which the Millennium
Armenian Children’s Vaccination Fund pledged to provide 500,000 USD
for procurement of vaccines to prevent such deadly childhood diseases
as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria.

MACVF has contributed over 100,000 USD to UNICEF to date. In 2005
alone, MACVF funding has enabled the immunization of approximately
100,000 children in Armenia against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus
and diphtheria. The assistance provided by MACVF to children in
Armenia is invaluable and has helped protect thousands of children
from serious illness. Not only do these children benefit directly from
the vaccinations, but immunization also provides a mechanism through
which health services can make contact with children and women whom
they need to reach with other interventions, further enhancing the
value of immunizations.

“We will continue to strengthen our relationships with Armenian
Diaspora organizations and will seek their active involvement in
the implementation of programs that contribute to the achievement
of the Millennium Development Goals,” UNICEF Representative Sheldon
Yett stressed.