International charity group ARK (Absolute Return for Kids) announced it has raised US$24.4m to finance two new programmes aimed at reducing maternal death in Zimbabwe and infant death in Zambia, and develop new South African education programme with Her Majesty Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

The two new health programmes are seen to save the lives of mothers and children in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The charity held its major gala fund raising dinner in Waterloo International station, attended by more than 800 guests and addressed by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

ARK said it would work with Her Majesty's foundation to develop a new education programme in South Africa, focused on school quality and leadership.

Speaking at the dinner, Her Majesty, Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, said: "I'm pleased that, in the coming year, my education foundation will partner with ARK to invest in South Africa's teachers, through leadership training programmes, that will turn failing schools into first class institutions."

ARK Chairman, Stanley Fink, added: "I want first to thank Her Majesty Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for her support for ARK tonight. Her uncompromising work to achieve better education for children is an inspiration. We are delighted that we are working with her foundation to develop a new programme to raise educational achievement in South Africa by raising the quality and leadership in schools."

He reported that the ARK's programme to provide antiretroviral therapy in South Africa has changed the lives of more than 115,000 children and treated 10 percent of all patients on treatment in South Africa. As a sustainable, locally managed programme, it will continue its vital work and is a template for future development in the country.

Diarrhoea kills more under-fives than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. Across Africa 700,000 children under five are killed by diarrhoea each year. Those deaths can be prevented. A third of those deaths are caused by rotavirus that can be treated with a $20 vaccine.