ISLAMABAD: Japan has announced $4.35 million grant to procure essential oral polio vaccines as part of its continued support to Pakistan for eradication of the crippling disease.

The latest grant will be utilised for procurement of 24 million oral doses of vaccines. It will allow the programme to reach around 21 million children under five years of age with focus on the high-risk districts with persistent poliovirus transmission. The vaccines will be used during vaccination drives.

The notes of the grant were signed and exchanged between Japan and Unicef and the grant agreement was signed and exchanged between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Unicef.

“The polio eradication efforts made substantive progress this year, limiting the virus circulation which resulted in a significant decrease in polio cases despite challenges posed by Covid-19. The programme is confident to permanently interrupt all types of poliovirus by the end of 2023,” said Dr Shahzad Baig, the national coordinator for Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme.

Appreciating the support from the government of Japan, Dr Shahzad Baig said: “We are grateful to the people and the government of Japan for their unwavering support for the children of Pakistan. The new funding will enable us to reach every child with the essential polio vaccine.”

Ambassador of Japan WADA Mitsuhiro appreciated the progress made this year in controlling the spread of poliovirus, saying that “we are now only one step away from the goal, a polio-free Pakistan”.

He reiterated his support to the initiative of eradicating all types of poliovirus by the end of 2023 and noted that “Japan has provided assistance in maternal and child health, polio eradication, and routine immunisation in Pakistan for decades and it will continue its support that will directly benefit vulnerable people”.

“We are glad to witness collaborative effort between polio programme and expanded programme on immunisation, represented by recently conducted measles rubella and polio campaign. We are also honoured that numerous polio programme experiences are utilised to fight against Covid-19 such as 1166 helpline, PCR test capacity at polio laboratory and vaccinators’ trainings under JICA project. We have a strong desire to witness all types of poliovirus interruption by the end of 2023 as suggested by the government of Pakistan.

“We appreciate the unwavering leadership of the government of Pakistan, with the highest respect to the frontline health workers,” said Shigeki Furuta, the chief representative of JICA.

“Pakistan has achieved tremendous success against interrupting poliovirus this year. From 84 reported polio cases in year 2020, the incidence has come down to one case over the last 11 months,” said Aida Girma, the Unicef representative in Pakistan, highlighting consistent efforts of the government of Pakistan and partners.

“The last mile towards eradication, however, will be tough and requires continuous support from partners like the government of Japan to achieve a polio-free status,” said Girma while acknowledging the Japanese support.

The new funding is part of the continuous support by the Japanese government in the polio eradication programme since 1996. To date, the grant and loan contribution from Japan has amounted to $230.497 million to support the polio programme in Pakistan through Unicef.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2021