Health Update to Congress Highlights USAID Successes; Efforts Across Globe
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
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2003-079
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2003
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announces the release of the Child Survival & Health Programs Fund Progress Report to the U.S. Congress for Fiscal Year 2002. This report describes key health achievements and activities with examples of programs in which USAID, collaborating with its partners, has achieved successful results.
USAID has consolidated health functions into its Global Health Bureau, demonstrating the importance of health issues. This report is the first USAID health report to Congress published by the Bureau which highlights progress in child survival and maternal health, vulnerable children, HIV/AIDS, other infectious diseases, and family planning/reproductive health.
"Foreign assistance is now recognized as the third pillar of America's National Security Strategy together with defense and diplomacy," said Dr. E. Anne Peterson, MD, MPH, and Assistant Administrator for Global Health for USAID. "Our global health programs and initiatives represent the commitment of the U.S. Government to prevent suffering, save lives, and create a brighter future for families in the developing world. Investing in the health of the world's population contributes to global economic development, reduction in poverty, sustainable environment and regional security."
Since the 1960s, USAID has been committed to improving the health and well-being of children and families. The Agency has provided more than $2.5 billion in assistance to child survival programs in developing countries to support maternal and child immunization, prevention and treatment of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and malaria - the major killer of infants and children - breastfeeding and complementary feeding, micronutrient supplementation and fortification, and water and sanitation. USAID helped create and implement many of today's life saving interventions and technologies to prevent and treat childhood diseases, including Oral Rehydation Therapy (ORT), Vitamin A, vaccines such as HIB and insecticide treated bed nets (ITN). These efforts have contributed to the reduction of mortality rates, for children under the age five by an estimated 14 percent since 1990 and save millions of lives each year.
This year alone, USAID will spend $795 million to assist more than 50 countries with HIV/AIDS programs. The Agency considers 25 of these countries to be high priority.
Examples of USAID's global and field health programs reach more than 70 countries.
AIDS -- USAID is helping to alter the course of national HIV/AIDS epidemics in countries such as Uganda, Cambodia, Zambia, Bolivia, and Senegal. At the end of 2001, adult prevalence in Uganda was estimated at 5 percent, down from a peak of 15 percent 10 years earlier.
Hunger -- To combat malnutrition, USAID promotes micronutrient supplementation, fortification, breastfeeding, and improved feeding practices for children and women. In 2002, USAID helped 19 countries conduct semi-annual Vitamin A supplementation campaigns, up from six in 1999. Increased Vitamin A intake has been shown to reduce deaths in children by 30 percent.
Malaria -- During 2002, USAID assisted 22 national malaria programs and three regional initiatives, continuing to build malaria control networks and develop new technologies and approaches to combat the disease. It has reached epidemic proportions in many parts of the world. USAID also supports NetMark, an innovative program forming partnerships with 13 major commercial firms to help stimulate commercial investment in insecticide-treated bed nets. ITNs can reduce mortality by 17 to 63 percent and malaria cases by 40 percent or more, particularly among children under age 5 and pregnant women. The use of ITNs could save more than 1 million lives a year in Africa annually.
Diarrheal Deaths -- The use of the new and improved formula for ORT, one of USAID's leading child survival interventions, continues to increase. The World Health Organization estimates that infant and child mortality from diarrheal diseases - once the leading killer of children in developing countries with more than 4 million deaths annually - has declined to about 1.5 million deaths per year.
Global Partnerships - These accomplishments were achieved through partnerships of institutions, governments, nongovernmental, faith-based, private voluntary organizations, international organizations, universities in the United States and abroad, and the private sector. USAID helped start and grow global alliances like the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (Global Fund ATM), the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) at the international board level. These alliances are a new way of doing business that can significantly boost resources and attention to critical health issues.
The report may be viewed at: www.usaid.gov/pop_health/home/Publications/index.html
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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