§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Overseas Development what action has been taken to assist other African countries to follow Zambia's example and develop their immunisation services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI am giving the full support of my Ministry to the World Health Organisation's expanded programme on immunisation, which has the objective of encouraging the development of well aimed and well administered immunisation programmes in developing countries which need external aid in expertise and resources for this purpose.
This support is being provided as a contribution in kind by providing vaccines from manufacturers in the United Kingdom, and by meeting all expenses of delivery. The value of the contributions already made, or agreed, is £48,000 in the financial year 1976–77 and £100,000 in the financial year 1977–78. I intend, subject to parliamentary approval, to make further contributions in kind to a value of £100,000 in the financial year 1978–79.
This support for the immunisation programme was brought to the attention of African countries by my representative at the Second Meeting of the Conference on Co-ordination and Co-operation for Health in Africa which was held in Brazzaville on 15th–16th September 1977.
African countries which have already received vaccines provided by my Ministry include Cameroon, Egypt, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Togo and Zambia.