managed byheadquarters. Areport ontheimpactofsuchfundswasrequested, in addition toaccounting oftheirexpenditures. Inresponse, thesecretariat informed theBoardthatonly12percentofprogramme fundsweredevoted toglobal reserves, andbetween 80to85percentofexpenditures .fromthesefundsdirectly support country-level activities. Inaddition, theinterregional fundsgaveUNICEF theflexibility toseizenewopportunities forchildren thatmightariseinthe .._ courseofthecountry programme cycle. Inresponse totherecommendation fromone delegation, itwasagreedthatprecise criteria governing thecreation ofnew interregional fundswouldbereported totheBoardatits1991regular session. 40.Withregardtointerregional programmes ingeneral, onedelegation requested further information ontheability ofUNICEFtoreachtheverypoorest. The secretariat reiterated thecommitment ofUNICEFtoreaching thepoorest, as indicated inthegoalsandstrategies forthe1990s,themedium-term planandthe various country programme recommendations beforetheBoard. 41.Whileexpressing support fortheproposal toco-operate withWHOinthe development ofmoreeffective vaccines (E/ICEF/1990/P/L.39), onedelegation voiced concern regarding thespreadofAIDSthrough theuseofsyringes andneedles. The secretariat replied thatUNICEF hadprovided special steamsterilizers andfunds·to trainhealth workers toproperly sterilize syringes andneedles. Workwasalso proceeding todevelop asingle-use disposable syringe foruseintheimmunization programme. Another delegation saidthattherehadbeentoomuchemphasis placed on vaccination andnotenoughsurveillance, soastodetermine whichimmunization activities weremosteffective. 42.Several delegations, however, werecautious regarding theapproval ofthe vaccine development proposal. Itwasfeltthattheproposal wouldresultin deviation fromtheUNICEFpolicynottosupport basicresearch. Queries werealso raisedregarding thecapacity ofUNICEFtomanage suchtechnical research; the relationship withWHOinthisprogramme; thelackofdetail onprogramme activities intherecommendation; theneedtodiscuss further possible options forvaccine improvement anddevelopment; andthequestion ofproprietary rightsregarding any vaccines thatmightbedeveloped. Thesecretariat replied thattheprogramme was notmeanttosupport basicbiomedical research, buttosupport applied and operational research instead, andthattheproposal hadthesupport ofWHO,with whomUNICEF worksclosely. Onedelegation saidthatitwouldsubmit adraft proposal calling forfurther discussion onthesubject through thecreation ofan expert group.Itwasalsosuggested thatUNICEFexplore withWHOtheideaof stimulating thedevelopment ofvaccines bytheprivate sector. (Seechap.IV, decision 1990/11 fortherecommendation oftheCommittee asadopted bythe Executive Board.) 43.One.delegation, whileconcurring withtheimportance oftheglobal communication support programme (E/ICEF/1990/P/L.33), emphasized thatitshouldnot support activities primarily atheadquarters, butshould focusattention on strengthening fieldcapacity toproduce country-specific audio-visual andprinted materials. Thesecretariat replied thatthefundswouldbeusedtotally insupport ofcountry programmes, particularly forthedevelopment ofmaterials andlocal capacity-building. -59--~--_...44.Delegations congratulated UNICEF onAIDSprevention efforts todateand expressed overall support fortheproposal onthatsubject (E/ICEF/1990/P/L.34). Several delegations requested assurances thatUNICEFeffcrts wouldbeclosely co-ordinated withtheWHOGlobal Programme onAIDSandwouldbeundertaken inthe framework ofnational AIDScontrol programmes. Thesecretariat responded that,as clearly statedinthedocument andinpastBoarddocuments onAIDS,UNICEFefforts werealwaysclosely co-ordinated withtheGlobal Programme onAIDSandnational AIDScontrol programmes. Onedelegation askedforclarification onUNICEF support forinternational meetings onAIDSandthesecretariat responded thatinmost
**Analysis**
The text discusses the impact of funds, vaccine development, AIDS prevention, and global communication support, all of which are related to health and humanitarian aid. The text also mentions the importance of country-level activities and the need for UNICEF to reach the poorest populations, which suggests a focus on development and humanitarian aid.

**Category**
Health, Humanitarian aid and relief