NEW ZEALAND CONTRIBUTES TO POLIO ERADICATION

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000502 SIPDIS FOR EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KSCA TBIO NZ WHO SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND CONTRIBUTES TO POLIO ERADICATION INITIATIVE (PEI) REF: A. 04 SECSTATE 862 ¶B. SECSTATE 118559 ¶1. Post delivered ref B demarche points to to Vicki Poole, Global Group Program Manager at the NZ Agency for International Development (NZAID); Dr. Mark Jacobs, Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health; and the Americas Division of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. ¶2. On behalf of all these agencies, Poole responded that in June 2005 New Zealand made further contributions of NZ$1.5 million (US$1.05 million) to the global Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI). This figure includes NZ$1.0 million (US$700,000) donated through UNICEF and NZ$500,000 (US$350,000) through New Zealand Rotary International. These contributions are in addition to New Zealand's total PEI contributions of NZ$1.6 million (US$1.1 million) in 2003 and NZ$200,000 (US$140,000) in 2004, and reflects NZAID's October 2004 commitment to strongly consider the PEI in its future funding rounds (ref A). Swindells