Eradication of polio from Pakistan: Japan provides $4.68 million additional fund to Unicef

The Government of Japan has provided an additional fund of 4.68 millions dollars to United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) to eradicate Polio from Pakistan in 2011. Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Chihiro Atsumi stated here on Tuesday while signing an agreement with Unicef Regional Director for South Asia Daniel Toole.
Japanese Ambassador said that the government of Japan has provided the fund to procure oral polio vaccine during 2011. Federal Minister for Health, Makhdoom Shahabuddin was also present on the occasion along with Takatoshi Nishikata, Chief Representative, Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica).
Makhdoom Shahabuddin said that polio eradication from Pakistan was not possible without the co-operation of partners like Japan. While acknowledging the Japan's contribution to health sector, the minister said that Japan was supporting the Polio Eradication Programme in Pakistan since 1996 and so far has contributed 86.86 million dollars, which is most significant contribution towards reducing the number of polio cases in Pakistan.
He said that for the past 14 years, Japan's support has been instrumental in ensuring sufficient quantity of vaccine and to ensure a sustained cold chain to protect the potency of the vaccine. Japanese Ambassador said that Jica has also been involved with Unicef in providing technical assistance to Pakistan for the eradication of polio. He said that the programme was launched in 1994; the number of cases has been reduced from more than 30,000 in 1994 to 126 in 2010.
Chief Representative Jica, Takatoshi Nishikata said this fund is a gift for the children of Pakistan. The eradication of polio is the largest public health initiative ever undertaken in Pakistan and it has been noted that its eradication is such a complex task that it would be impossible for one government, donor or NGO to undertake on its own, he added.

Global experts have reinforced that polio can be eradicated if there is commitment at all levels to overcome the remaining operational challenges, Nishikata said. "We are all part of this partnership and this ceremony is symbolic of our strong polio partnership in Pakistan" he remarked.
He said that in the wake of recent upsurge of polio in Pakistan, the eyes of the world are all the more on our polio eradication efforts and the global community has the confidence that Pakistan could eradicate polio. He said that for the past 14 years, Japan's support has been unwavering as it continues to be one of the largest donors to Pakistan's polio eradication efforts, contributing 6.3 billion Yen (82 million dollars) through Unicef alone.
In 1994, when we first started activities in Pakistan, polio was everywhere as over 30,000 children were being paralysed by polio, but after passage of one decade, the number was brought down to less than a hundred, the minister added. Unicef's Regional Director for South Asia Daniel Toole said that Pakistan has had a dramatic rise in the number of polio cases this year, but Unicef believes that polio could be eradicated if there is commitment at all levels to overcome the challenges.
He said that Unicef would utilise new funds provided by the government of Japan to ensure availability of polio vaccine for 2011 polio eradication campaign. Daniel Toole maintained that the polio eradication programme is reaching out to more children in more areas especially rural parts of the country.
He said that elimination of the remaining hurdles in the way of polio eradication is one of the Unicef's top priorities in Pakistan. He said that in addition to vaccine procurement, we place particular emphasis on social mobilisation and communication activities to ensure all children under five years are given two drops of polio vaccine in every campaign, every time and to reach all the un-reached. He said that improving immunisation is one of the key indicators for ensuring reduction in childhood morbidity and mortality and Pakistani government is committed to intensified efforts to achieve Millennium development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 set by the United Nations (UN) for member countries, which are linked to child and maternal health.