For polio eradication, the government of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) signed agreements Monday to make sure children are vaccinated in Pakistan, one of the last polio virus strongholds in the world.
MoNHSRC Joint Secretary Amir Sheikh witnessed the ceremony on behalf of the government of Pakistan. The US$ 5.4 million (562 million Japanese Yen) worth grant will contribute to supporting UNICEF’s commitment towards polio eradication effort during the period December 2014-November 2015.
Japan’s donation will make it possible for UNICEF to procure 15 million doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for mop-up campaigns, 1.3 million doses of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) for children in high risk areas of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Karachi, 100 solar ice-lined refrigerators (ILRs) for districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and FATA, backup generators and temperature monitoring systems for strengthening the cold chain at federal, KP, Balochistan and FATA vaccine stores.
The grant will also strengthen the vaccine management through provision of cold chain and logistic personnel at federal, FATA and four provinces.
Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Hiroshi Inomata reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to help Pakistan to get rid of this preventable disease. He recalled that the government of Japan has supported the Polio Eradication Initiative in Pakistan since 1996. Japan’s assistance amounts to approximately US$ 149 million (JPY 15.5 billion, Rs. 15.2 billion).
Given a large increase in the number of polio cases this year, Inomata called on the government of Pakistan and its partners to redouble their efforts to address the existing complex challenge in the fight against polio. He welcomed the commitment of the government of Pakistan shown in the National Task Force Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on November 5. He reiterated Japan’s commitment to working together until the day of its complete eradication.
JICA Chief Representative Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki emphasised urgent needs of fully organised service delivery system of immunisation programme.
“This grant addresses urgent needs of current polio situation in Pakistan and will enable children to acquire rapid immunisation among children influx from FATA who have had zero dose since June 2012 and children who hardly get immunity with OPV. Provision of ILRs and human resource for vaccine management will contribute to make immunization activities further effective. We are hopeful that this grant will serve as a drive for the final phase of Pakistan’s fight against polio virus.”
UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Angela Kearney added, “This latest contribution by the government of Japan comes at a critical time when the number of children paralysed by polio and the risk of transmission to other countries is the highest in a decade.”
