ISLAMABAD: The Japanese government has announced a new $3.1 million grant to procure essential oral polio vaccines as part of its continued support for polio eradication efforts in Pakistan.

Pakistan Polio Programme will use the fund to procure more than 20.22 million doses of vaccines to support polio campaigns in 2025, said a press release issued by the Japanese embassy on Wednesday.

An agreement to this effect was signed in Islamabad on Wednesday. Charge d’Affaires ad interim, Tanaka Shuichi, and Unicef Representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, signed the documents. Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio, Ayesha Raza Farooq, also attended agreement signing ceremony.

“The challenges faced in 2024 have underscored the critical need to accelerate our efforts to eradicate polio. With Japan’s continued support, we are further strengthened to intensify our efforts, aiming to achieve zero polio cases by mid-2025 under the leadership of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif,” said Ayesha Raza.

Takano Shuichi said on the occasion that “Japan has supported Pakistan to eradicate polio for nearly 30 years despite hindrance such as floods, Covid-19, and terrorist attacks. Since this year marks the 17th anniversary of Japan’s ODA to Pakistan, we would like to renew our commitment to continue to promote routine immunisation including polio vaccination in Pakistan”.

The new funding is part of the continuous support from Japan to the Polio Eradication Programme since 1996. To date, the grant and loan contribution from the government of Japan has amounted to approximately $242.194m to support the polio programme in Pakistan through Unicef.

“The sharp rise in polio cases this year is a reminder of the urgent need to protect every child with vaccines through campaigns and routine immunisation. While there is polio anywhere, every child will remain at risk until the virus is eradicated,” said the Unicef representative.

“With steadfast support from partners like Japan, Unicef remains fully committed to making Pakistan polio-free and ensuring that no child is left behind,” he said.

“Despite the challenges, Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicating polio by mid-2025,” claimed Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath.

“As we prepare to launch polio campaigns in 2025, together with our partners we will maintain an emergency focus towards resolving the remaining challenges that stand in our way to reach all children,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2024