The United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged for more funding for a plan that would provide vaccination to that section of the society that requires it the most.

The immunization is an essential part of the initiative `Women's and Children's Health' that was introduced by the Secretary-General two weeks ago. The plan's main objective is to save lives of more than 16 million women and children between 2011 and 2015.

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) was formed in 2000 and covered around 257 million children under its program. With the increasing use of vaccines, a number of deaths across the globe can be prevented and thus the Millennium Development Goal of reducing two-third of children's deaths by 2015 can be met.

Mr. Ban said, "Let us commit to increasing the funds available to the GAVI Alliance. Let us commit to improving health for children, women and men everywhere".

Addressing the gathering in New York last night, Mr. Ban said there is a requirement to speed up the introduction of life-saving vaccines, which could prevent more than 4 million future deaths. He called for funding so that alliance can implement the plan successfully and could achieve the health targets laid down under MDGs.