ISLAMABAD: Germany will provide Euro 5 million to Pakistan for the eradication of polio in order to completely eliminate this menace from the country by the year 2020.
In this regard, KFW Germany and Economic Affairs Division signed an agreement for strengthening the efforts to eradicate the menace of polio, a finance ministry press release said.
Economic Affairs Division Secretary Noor Ahmed and KFW Germany Country Director Wolfgang Moeller signed Financing Agreement for Polio Eradication Phase II worth Euro 5 million equivalent to Rs790 million.
The agreement envisages to exclusively finance polio vaccines as well as vaccination campaigns to strengthen measures for the implementation of Pakistan’s 2018-2019 National Polio Emergency Action Plan.
The programme is to be executed by UNICEF and WHO and is in continuation of Polio Eradication Programme Phase I. The National Task Force for Polio Eradication headed by the prime minister has led to marked reduction in the numbers of polio cases from 306 in 2014 to 54 in 2015, 20 in 2016, 8 in 2017 and only 4 in 2018.
The turnaround has been widely appreciated at national and international forums. The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination is hoping to eradicate the menace of polio from Pakistan till the year 2020.