The contribution made to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and other partners will be used mainly to purchase oral polio vaccine for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, which has reported more than 50 per cent of the current polio cases in Pakistan. 133 cases have been reported in the country so far this year.
“It is the unwavering demonstration of financial and technical support from our partners that assists to reinvigorate our commitment to eradicate polio from Pakistan,” said Federal Health Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin at a signing ceremony attended by Ambassador of Japan, HE Chihiro Atsumi and Unicef regional director for South Asia Daniel Toole.
“This year Pakistan has had a dramatic rise in the number of polio cases. Despite this rise, we believe that polio can be eradicated in Pakistan if there is commitment at all levels to overcome the remaining challenges,” said Daniel Toole of UNICEF.
The government of Japan has supported the polio eradication programme in Pakistan since 1996. It has so far contributed US$ 86.86 million and the latest grant would constitute 10 per cent of the total polio vaccine requirement in Pakistan during 2011. The polio eradication initiative of Pakistan has scheduled eight national and sub-national immunisations days (NIDs) for 2011 where each NID will require more than 40 million doses of the oral polio vaccine.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2010.
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