UNICEF representative in Pakistan Angela Kearney has said that the government of Japan has approved $2.98 million grant for polio eradication programme in Pakistan.
She was speaking to a group of media persons at the residence of Toshikazu Isomura, the public affairs counsellor, Embassy of Japan.
“This grant enables the government of Pakistan through UNICEF to procure 16 million doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) to conduct 10 rounds of door-to-door immunisations that are carried out in specific focal areas where the virus is known or suspected to still be circulating. Priority areas include those polio cases have been found over the previous three years and where access to health care is difficult,” said Kearney.
She said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were the only countries in the world where polio virus existed, adding that 306 cases of polio in 2014, 54 in 2015 and five cases of polio virus had been registered in Pakistan this year.
Kearney lauded the efforts and initiative taken by the government, and said the UNICEF with the support of Japan, the WHO and other partners with the government trying to eradicate polio from Pakistan.
She said that from 1996 to 2015, the contribution to Pakistan polio eradication initiative from Japan was accumulated to $153.5 million.
Responding to queries of journalists, the UNICEF representative said that her organisation was supporting Pakistani relative departments for proper storage of vaccinations of polio and also providing technical support to Pakistan.
Jalpa Ratna also from UNICEF said that IDP’s from FATA vaccinated from polio in camps and host areas. She said the UNICEF had a robust process for monitoring of polo vaccination activities through independent monitors.
UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) representative Cesar Guedes said Afghanistan was the main hub of drug smuggling and through different routes it went to Gulf, Africa, Europe and other areas.
“Drug traffickers are using Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian routes for smuggling while Pak-Afghan borders remain porous and difficult to monitor.