Alex Palacios, GAVI Special Representative, delivered a statement before the House Appropriations Sub-committee on State and Foreign Operations, United States House of Representatives, requesting “that the Subcommittee recommend at least US$115 million under the Global Health account for a U. S. Contribution to the GAVI Alliance in fiscal year 2012. The Administration for fiscal year 2012 has requested funding for GAVI at the $115 million level. He also requested that the Subcommittee recommend “at least the Administration’s request of US$849 million for the Global Health account for Child Survival and Maternal Health…”

“…GAVI and its partners now face a serious challenge to secure the financing necessary to essentially meet the aspirations of poor countries and to improve the health and wellbeing of their children. Globally, GAVI will require on average an additional $750 million per year from all sources worldwide between now and 2015 to introduce new vaccines to prevent pneumonia and diarrhea while sustaining other immunization programs.

“With additional resources GAVI can, over the next five years, ensure that four million future deaths will be averted, and over 256 million additional children vaccinated against diseases that kill or disable. We recognize this represents a significant challenge for the U.S. and other donors facing fiscal deficits and constraints. However, we know also that the U.S. Congress and the administration are seeking to support effective and efficient development programs and GAVI, with only 5 % overhead and a small staff, represents, as Bill Gates would say, good value for the money and a good investment for the American people….”

http://www.gavialliance.org/media_centre/statements/alex_palacios.php