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Geneva, 9 March 2012 - 11 March will mark the first anniversary of the Higashi Nihon Earthquake in Japan. On behalf of the GAVI Alliance, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to those who lost family members, friends and colleagues. I have been inspired by the resilience and solidarity demonstrated by the Japanese people during this difficult time of reconstruction.
In spite of its domestic challenges, Japan has continued to show its unwavering leadership in the field of global health. Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO, GAVI Alliance |
Unwavering leadership
In spite of its domestic challenges, Japan has continued to show its unwavering leadership in the field of global health. One of many examples was the participation of the Japanese Government in GAVI’s Pledging Conference held in June 2011, where it announced a new contribution of US$ 9.3 million to the GAVI Alliance.
Funding from Japan has been key to GAVI’s support for vaccines through to 2015 to assist countries to immunise a further 225 million children by 2015 and avert an additional nearly four million future deaths.
Heartfelt appreciation
On behalf of all my colleagues at the GAVI Alliance, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for the contributions of the Japanese people and the Japanese Government to support GAVI’s mission to protect the lives of children and improve people’s health in developing countries.
The deep strength and resourcefulness your nation has demonstrated since the terrible earthquake and tsunami one year ago will forever inspire our work.