Officials from 4 nations meet in Cambodia for immunization financing

Xinhua
2012-7-4 

Some 60 officials from ministries of health, ministries of finance and parliaments from Cambodia, Nepal, Mongolia and Sri Lanka gathered here on Wednesday to discuss immunization financing and legislation.

The fourth Asian Regional Symposium focuses on budget and financial innovations, such as engaging provincial governments actively in the immunization budgeting process and the creation of national immunization funds, said a press release at the meeting.

The participants will also study and critique legislative projects in their respective countries that will increase government funding for childhood immunization, said the press release.

The two-day meeting was sponsored by Cambodia's Parliament and the Washington D.C.-based Sabin Vaccine Institute.

Increased government financing and protective legislation are seen as necessary steps countries must take to fully own their national immunization programs and to ensure they are sustainably financed, said Sabin senior program officer Jonas Mbwangue, adding that increasing country ownership on immunization financing will lead to decreasing dependencies on external partners.

Speaking at the meeting, Ho Naun, chairwoman of the Health Commission at the National Assembly, said that the body has actively adopted laws, ratifying conventions, agreements, international protocols on health prevention and protection.

Dr. Eng Huot, secretary of state at Cambodia's Health Ministry, said that besides providing 8 kinds of vaccine to the mother and infant, the ministry has been researching more disease that can be prevented by vaccine and make an effort in seeking financial aid to implement prevention program effectively in the sake of citizen welfares.