Much needed: Japan pledges Rs230m for polio eradication

Funds will provide for social mobilisation, procurement of vaccines.

ISLAMABAD:

The government of Japan has extended a grant of 226 million Japanese Yen through Unicef for polio eradication programme in Pakistan.

The grant agreement on the provision of funds for “The Project for the Control and Eradication of Poliomyelitis” in Pakistan was signed between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) on Monday for the procurement of oral polio vaccines.

The funds will also provide for social mobilisation campaigns during the current year.

The government of Japan has been supporting the polio eradication initiative in Pakistan since 1996 and a total of $91.92 million assistance grant has so far been provided to Pakistan.

On the other hand, under the National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication, launched by former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the Unicef had hired around 1,900 social mobalisers and communication officials under the Communication Network (COMNet) to increase awareness and build the reputation of the polio programme.

However, after recent attacks on polio teams in Kyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi, the role of these officials had been restricted with the direction to avoid door-to-door visits.

When contacted, Unicef Pakistan Spokesperson Azmat Abbas said that there was no mention in the guidelines that social mobilisation or communication activities should be stopped.

JICA Pakistan Representative Maki Suzuki said, “To my understanding, the Unicef has restarted its social mobilisation activity not by going door-to-door but by educating religious and community leaders to reach the public.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2013.