Japan provides $4m for polio eradication
By Muhammad Ali Malik

ISLAMABAD—The government of Japan would provide further funds of Yen 443 million (US$ 4 million) to continue its support for the National Polio Eradication Programme.
An agreement to this effect was signed here on Monday between the government of Japan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Seiji Kojima, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, and Martin Mogwanja, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan singed the agreement while Federal Secretary Health, Khushnood Akhtar Lashari witnessed the signing ceremony.
The funds would be utilized to procure 23.8 million doses of oral polio vaccine during 2008 that would constitutes 10 per cent of the total requirement.
It may be recalled that the Government of Japan has been supporting the Polio Eradication Programme in Pakistan since 1996 and total contribution made so far by the Government of Japan comes up to US$ 73 million.
Speaking on the occasion, the Health Secretary said that the success of different child health initiatives in Pakistan was due to generous assistance provided by the government and people of Japan.
“The Polio Eradication Programme has been and remains at the top of our health agenda and there will be no let up in our efforts as long as there is a single child affected by this disease,” he remarked.
In his remarks, the Ambassador of Japan, Seiji Kojima said that main target of the fund was to bring the transmission of polio virus to an end, adding that this was certainly achievable through continuous collaboration and involvement of thousands of health workers and volunteers.
Expressing his gratitude to the government and people of Japan, UNICEF representative, Martin Mogwanja said that government of Japan continues to be one of the largest donors in Pakistan’s efforts to check the disease.
“If we have not partners like Japan, it would be difficult for Pakistan and indeed for the world to achieve the greatest public health achievements,” he added.
UNICEF, along with other partners, has supported the government of Pakistan in conducting National Polio Immunization Days since 1994.