Flickr: Álvaro Ramírez
Norway is one of the GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance’s original six donor countries. Its commitment since 2001 to supporting the Alliance and strengthening routine immunization across the globe has been crucial to the Alliance’s success.
Totaling a population of just over 5 million people, Norway is the second least densely populated country in Europe, comprised of a mainland containing huge fjords and dotted with thousands of islands, ranging from the Barents Sea to the Norwegian and North seas.
Beyond its beauty and natural allure, here are a few more facts about Norway you should know and share.
1. In the 2011–15 period, Norway’s commitments accounted for approximately 10% of Gavi’s total funding. This adds up to about $30 per Norwegian citizen per year – far more per capita than the commitments of any other donor. Additionally, just last month Norway committed $190 million to the Gavi’s polio work for the period 2014-2019, which is aimed at increasing routine immunization and supporting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which is awesome.
2.Just this month, Norway offered Nigeria a grant of $15 million to support the country’s effort to improve maternal and child healthcare service delivery. They estimate that through this plan between now and the end of 2015 will help prevent an additional 420,000 maternal and child deaths.
3. 100% of Norwegian citizens are insured by the National Insurance Scheme. This is a universal, tax-funded, single-payer health system. Compared to France, Italy, Spain and Japan, Norway has the most centralized system.
