Japan Provides US$ 4m to UNICEF for polio eradication in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Government of Japan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has signed an agreement in which Japan would provide funds of 443 million yen to continue its support to the National Polio Programme in Pakistan.

Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Seiji Kojima and Martin Mogwanja, UNICEF representative in Pakistan signed the agreement. Federal Minister for Health, Ejaz Rahim was present on the occasion.

Funds provided by the government of Japan would be used to procure 23.8 million doses of oral polio vaccine during 2008 that constitutes 10 per cent of the total requirement.

The government of Japan has supported the Polio Eradication Programme in Pakistan since 1996. Total contribution made so far by the government of Japan comes up to $ 73 million a sum which significant contribution towards reducing the number of polio cases in Pakistan.