‘Investing in World’s Children’

A heartfelt thanks to The Times for the editorial (Dec. 12), “Investing in the World’s Children” and the article, “One Million Children, Saved, UNICEF Says,” by Harry Nelson, Times Medical Writer.

As the result of immunization programs and oral rehydration therapy (a simple method used to treat diarrheal disease) more than 1 million children’s lives have been saved in the past year. UNICEF, a U.N. agency, the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization and the U.S. Agency for International Development are currently committed to immunizing all the world’s children by 1990. The immunization rate averaged less than 5% in some developing countries a few years ago; that has now been changed to more like 60% and higher in some countries.

The results of these immunization programs have already been felt, but much remains to be done. Immunization is still available only to less than half the world’s children.

Support is needed from the House of Representatives and Congress if this worthwhile project is to be a success. Legislation was introduced Dec. 10 to add $50 million in new funds next year for the immunization program.

The cost per child is $5 and it is a two-step shot procedure. The shots protect a child from measles, (2 million will die of measles alone this year because vaccination was not available to them) polio, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and tuberculosis. The outcome of all this immunizing will be children who are healthier, happier and most important alive !

BEVERLY D’ERRICO

Thousand Oaks