Japan gives US$1.4 m to UNICEF for Children’s Health in Burundi

The Government of Japan and UNICEF yesterday in Bujumbura signed a Grant Agreement for Japanese assistance of US$1.42 million through UNICEF  to support Maternal and Child Health in Burundi. 

The Agreement was signed by Japanese Ambassador to Burundi, based in Nairobi, His Excellency, Mr. Shigeo Iwatani and by UNICEF Representative in Burundi, Madam Gloria Kodzwa, in the presence of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Representative in Kenya, Mr. Ryosuke Kojima, Burundi Health Minister, Dr. Emmanuel Gikoro and WHO Representative in Burundi, Dr. Joseph Cabore.

The funds will be used for the prevention and control of infectious diseases among children through the Immunization against the six major vaccine preventable diseases (including measles, polio and tetanus) among various measures. Also approved at the same time as the Burundi project were those for Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Haiti, and Timor Leste and Zimbabwe totalling US$10.4m for the seven countries.

At today’s ceremony, Ambassador Shigeo Itawani said Japan puts Public Health on its priority list in its assistance to Burundi, including the Integrated Management of Childhood Diseases.

UNICEF Representative, Gloria Kodzwa, noted that the Japanese Grant will complement the efforts of Government, UNICEF, other partners and communities in the provinces of Muyinga, Cankuzo, Kayanza and Gitega and said UNICEF will continue to strengthen the Bureau of Statistics to better track the impact of results from the efforts of all partners to improve the well-being of children.  Health Minister, Emmanuel Gikoro, expressed appreciation of the contributions of Japan and UNICEF to saving the precious lives of Burundi’s children and promised that his Ministry will ensure the success of the project.

The Government of Japan has remained over the years one of the highest donors to various UNICEF Child Survival and Development programmes in Burundi, contributing about US$14.3 million between 2006 and 2009, to Free and Quality Primary Education including Early Childhood Development as well as Prevention of Malaria and Malnutrition.

Burundi’s Under Five mortality in 2008 was 168 for every 1,000 live births and infant mortality rate 102 deaths for 1000 live births; indeed in 2007, Burundi had the 10th highest mortality rate in the world for children under five. The Burundian Government adopted free health care for children under five and pregnant women during delivery in 2006, achieving considerable access to health services. The main causes of death remain pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and AIDS, exacerbated by high levels of malnutrition, which could all be prevented or treated if the means and knowledge on feeding and caring practices were there.

This latest US1.4 million Grant Agreement will provide great relief to this East African country, currently grappling with its transition to sustainable development, climate change and the global financial and food crises.