This is a new grant of 3.1 million dollars by the Government of Japan to procure oral polio vaccines essential in supporting polio eradication drive activities in Pakistan. This means that the Pakistan Polio Programme will be able to buy more than 20.22 million doses of vaccines for next year’s polio drives.
Of the two countries in the world where polio has not been eradicated, Pakistan has reported a total of fifty-nine polio cases by the year 2024. The recent increase in cases will prompt the government to implement an aggressive and strategic action plan by 2025, along with its partners, to eradicate this life-threatening disease among minors. Such nationwide immunization campaigns target more than 45.4 million children younger than 5 years, with over 400,000 frontline workers, most of them females, making sure that the Polio Programme reaches out well.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, highlighted that although there are hurdles, Pakistan will continue its efforts towards eradicating the virus by mid-2025. “Now as we prepare starting next year for the polio drive, along with our partners we will focus on resolving the remaining problems that stand in our way to access all children.”
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“Japan’s support has been crucial in the country.” Much closer to reaching zero polio cases, “Dr. Bharath further said, “We thank the Government and the people of Japan for their support in the fight against polio in Pakistan.” Ayesha Raza Farooq noted that without accelerating eradication efforts with Japan’s help, zero polio cases by mid-2025 would be an unreachable target under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Japan’s Charge d’Affaires ad interim in Pakistan, TAKANO Shuichi, asserted that Japan has been providing almost thirty years of support to Pakistan in its fight against polio, which has survived all odds including floods, terrorism, and COVID-19 challenges. In commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of Japan’s ODA for Pakistan, Shuichi pledged again to support the routine immunization of people, including polio vaccination.
This funding was announced as part of Japan’s assistance to the Polio Eradication program for Japan in 1996. Up to now, Japan has mobilized 242.194 million U.S. dollars in grants and loans to support the Polio program in Pakistan through UNICEF.
MIYATA Naoaki, Chief Representative of the JICA Pakistan Office, commended the government’s relentless efforts to ensure that all children receive the vaccine, stressing especially the critical role vaccines play in building immunity among children.