ISLAMABAD, 08 December 2022 – The Government of Japan extended its support to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme by providing more than US$ 3.87 million as a grant. The grant will be used for the procurement of essential oral polio vaccine, which will reach more than 18.61 million under five years old children in Pakistan living in endemic and outbreak districts.
The notes of the grant were signed and exchanged between the Government of Japan and the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and between Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) and UNICEF. Minister Abdul Qadir Patel, the Ministry of National Health Services,
Regulation and Coordination and other dignitaries were present during the signing event.
“Pakistan has come a long way in the last 30 years. From thousands of children paralyzed by
poliovirus in the 1980s and 1990s, we have managed to reduce the number of cases and
affected communities drastically,” said Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel. Referring to the
commitment of the government to polio eradication, the Minister said, “The Programme has
successfully restricted virus circulation to endemic districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; we are
committed and optimistic about eradicating polio by 2023.” The Minister extended his sincere
appreciation for the support of the Government of Japan and partners for their unwavering
commitment to Polio eradication.
The Government of Japan has been supporting the Polio Eradication Programme in Pakistan
since 1996. The long-standing partnerships have helped to reach millions of children with life-
saving vaccines over the years. The grant and loan contribution from the Government of Japan
to date has amounted to more than US$ 238.66 million dollars to support the Polio Programme
in Pakistan through UNICEF.
H.E. WADA Mitsuhiro, Ambassador of Japan commended the Government of Pakistan and
UNICEF for their tireless efforts in emergency vaccination campaigns in southern KP and
establishing transit points in North Waziristan to limit the spread of Wild Polio Virus. He also
reiterated his continuous support for eradicating poliovirus, by saying that “I would like to
renew my commitment to achieve the polio-free world. Japan will continuously support the
Government of Pakistan and UNICEF in this regard. I sincerely hope that the national and sub-
national campaigns of the next year will be safe and successful.”
“It is very appreciative that polio program has supported the flood relief efforts in the flood
affected districts. Health camps have been opened to provide basic clinical services, treatment
of water-borne, vector-borne diseases and immunization for children and women of
reproductive age. The Government of Pakistan, UNICEF and Japan has a strong target to
achieve polio-free in Pakistan by the end of 2023. I would appreciate the continuous and
unwavering leadership and commitment of the Government of Pakistan and UNICEF, with the
highest respect to the frontline workers,” said KINOSHITA Yasumitsu, Chief Representative, JICA
Pakistan Office.
While polio remains a challenge for Pakistan, the country is facing extraordinary challenges due
to recent floods.
“Already these children and families have lost so much, it is imperative that we safeguard them
from this deadly disease,” said Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, highlighting
the situation of children and families living in endemic and outbreak districts following the
devasting recent floods. “Through the unwavering support and generosity of the people and
Government of Japan, more children can now be immunized to prevent the devastation of
paralysis and even death. We are now closer to securing a polio-free future for all.”
The programme has made concerted efforts, including working with families at the household
level by engaging parents and caregivers and consistently focusing on persistently missed and
refusal families. Over 339,521 trained and dedicated polio front-line workers go door-to-door
during every national campaign and inoculate vaccines to eligible children. Despite challenges,
the Polio Programme has successfully limited the transmission of poliovirus to the endemic
region of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which is a substantial gain. Following the new
risk categorisation, the next 13 months are critical for the Programme to sustain the gain and
eradicate polio from Pakistan. The timeline for stopping all poliovirus transmission in the
current global polio eradication strategic plan is the end 2023.
As a partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, UNICEF has been working with the
Government of Pakistan, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO and other partners to
make sure the national polio eradication and vaccination programmes reach every child in
Pakistan.
