IVI commemorates 10th Anniversary

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2007-10-17 14:09

Seoul--(뉴스와이어)--The International Vaccine Institute (IVI), the world’s only international organization devoted exclusively to the research and development of new vaccines for developing countries, commemorated its 10th anniversary on October 17.

The IVI, which is also the first international organization headquartered in Korea, hosted a ceremony and a gala marking the historic occasion at the IVI headquarters in Seoul. The ceremony drew more than 150 participants, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and other senior government officials from Korea, foreign diplomats in Seoul, special dignitaries from Kuwait and Spain, as well as members of the IVI Board of Trustees, including its Chairman Dr. Ragnar Norrby.

In his congratulatory video message for the ceremony, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, called the IVI “a pioneering centre for research.” “For 10 years, the IVI promoted dynamic interaction among scientists and developers from Asia and elsewhere.” Mr. Ban said. “The IVI played a unique role in vaccine research, development, training, technical assistance, and information-sharing,” noting its complementary roles with the World Health Organization.

The Korean First Lady Madame Kwon Yang-suk, who serves as the Honorary President of the Korea Support Committee for IVI, said in her video message that “Protecting our children from diseases is protecting humanity’s future. Diseases have no national borders, and our efforts to combat these diseases must also be free of boundaries,” calling for “greater medical cooperation between IVI and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

At the ceremony three people were honored with plaques for their contribution to the IVI’s establishment. These honorees included; Prof. Cho Wan-kyoo, former chairman of the Organizing Committee for the IVI, Prof. Yoo Chong-ha, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Suh Bum Suk, former vice Minister of Education. Five others were also awarded with plaques for their donation to the Institute, including Contron Corp., Green Cross, Nonghyup (NACF) Bank, STC Group and the Korea Exchange Bank Foundation.

IVI Director-General Dr. John Clemens said, “The IVI has emerged as one of the world’s leading centers of vaccine research” citing a string of accomplishments. Dr. Clemens noted the IVI has developed an improved oral cholera vaccine, and is currently transferring its production technology to developing countries, such as India.

The IVI, with the U.S. National Institutes of Health, has also jointly developed a new typhoid vaccine that is safe and effective in infants. “Transfer of technology to a producer, committed to producing vaccines for the poor at affordable prices, will commence soon,” Dr. Clemens said.

Recently, the IVI has also launched a project for North Korean children to introduce vaccines against bacterial meningitis and Japanese encephalitis.

“In the future, the IVI will expand its field research to additional countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America,” Dr. Clemens said. “At its new high-level bio-containment laboratories, the Institute will also step up research on vaccines against dangerous pathogens, including avian influenza and tuberculosis.”

The international community has been highly successful in improving health in developing countries through expanded immunization. However, infectious diseases still kill some 16,000 children under the age of five every day, primarily in developing countries. Furthermore, the threat of emerging diseases, such as avian influenza, demonstrates the continued importance of infectious disease research.

The IVI was initiated in the early 1990s by the United Nations. Leaders of 77 countries adopted a declaration calling for concerted efforts to promote children's health during the World Summit on Children in 1990. In 1993, the United Nations Development Program began process to establish the IVI, and Korea became the host after undergoing competition with six nations of Asia in 1994. The IVI officially commenced as an autonomous and independent organization in October 1997.

Currently, 40 countries and the World Health Organization are signatories to the IVI’s Establishment Agreement. While developing new vaccines at its headquarters, the Institute is also conducting over 100 field vaccine research projects in 22 countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These projects are helping to introduce vaccines against deadly diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis, and dengue fever into programs for the poor. These diseases cause up to 3.5 million childhood deaths each year.

The IVI is supported by many donors from both the private and public sectors. Major donors include the governments of Korea, Sweden, and Kuwait, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other international philanthropists, as well as a growing number of private companies and citizens in Korea.

In addition to the events commemorating the 10th anniversary on October 17, the IVI will host a benefit golf tournament at Sky 72 Golf Club in Yeongjong-do, Incheon on October 26. The event will unite some 160 people, including business leaders, diplomats, entertainers and pro golfers, with the goal of bringing vaccines to the world’s poorest children.

웹사이트: http://www.ivi.int