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Japan to provide $6 million for polio

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The government of Japan would provide to UNICEF 636 million yens ($6 million/Rs 324 million) to support the eradication of polio in Pakistan.

This agreement was signed on Friday by Toshiyuki Iwado, Charge d'Affaires Embassy of Japan and Stephen H. Umemoto, UNICEF Representative for Pakistan.

The Exchange of Notes took place at a simple ceremony with Dr Attiya Inayatullah, Member National Security Council who was also present on behalf of Pakistan government.

On this occasion Japanese diplomat said that, "as a top donor to Pakistan, Japan is assisting self-help efforts by Pakistan in the health and medical sectors, especially targeting mother and child healthcare. Since 1996 Japan has provided 852 million yen (Rs 434 million) through UNICEF for the purchase of polio vaccines and related cold chain for the national immunisation days in Pakistan".

Toshiyuki Iwado added that the grant aid would be an important major step towards further cooperation between Japan and Pakistan in the near future. The present grant aid was the largest as compared to the assistance in the previous years, he said.

The grant would help procure 60 million doses of polio vaccines and related cold chain supplies required for the two rounds of the national immunisation days to be held throughout Pakistan in October and November this year. This will meet 80 percent of the vaccine requirements to ensure total coverage of 30 million children under five in the country to protect them from this dreadful disease.

The UNICEF Representative Stephen Umemoto said "since 1996 Japan has been major partners in this historic campaign to eradicate polio. Much of Japan's support has been for oral polio vaccine (OPV).

Dr Attiya Inayatullah, Member National Security Council, hoped that with the continued support of partners like Japan the goal of a polio-free Pakistan would be accomplished very soon.