ISLAMABAD: Japan on Wednesday announced a $3.1 million grant for the purchase of essential oral polio vaccines as part of its continued support for polio eradication efforts in Pakistan.
According to officials, the Pakistan Polio Program will use these funds to purchase 20.22 million doses of vaccine to support polio campaigns in 2025. He said that Pakistan is one of the two countries in the world where polio has not been stopped yet. A total of 59 polio cases were reported in Pakistan in 2024.
Officials said that with the current increase in polio cases in the country, the Government of Pakistan, along with its partners, is ready to implement a comprehensive, aggressive and strategic action plan in 2025 aimed at eradicating the disease among children. The deadly disease is to be eradicated. Each national immunization campaign targets more than 45.4 million children under the age of five, including more than 400,000 frontline workers, especially women, who play a critical role in ensuring the reach of the polio program. . “Despite the challenges, Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicate polio by mid-2025,” Prime Minister’s Coordinator of National Health Services Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath said during a special function here. He said that Pakistan, along with its development partners, is ready to launch a polio campaign in 2025, focusing on solving the remaining challenges to reach all children.
Dr. Bharath said that Japan’s unwavering support has been instrumental in helping Pakistan reach zero cases. He said that we are grateful to the government and people of Japan for their continued support for the eradication of polio. Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said that the challenges faced in 2024 emphasized the critical need to accelerate efforts to eradicate polio. He said that with the continuous support of Japan, Pakistan has accelerated its efforts to achieve zero cases of polio by mid-2025.
Takano Shuichi, Japan’s charge d’affaires ad interim, said that despite obstacles such as floods, Covid-19 and terrorist attacks, his country had almost Supported Pakistan in eradicating polio for 30 years. He said that this year, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Japan’s official development assistance to Pakistan, his country has provided polio vaccination to Pakistan. Renewed its commitment to promote routine immunization. “The new funding is part of the continued support from the Government of Japan to the polio eradication program since 1996. To date, through UNICEF, Pakistan has A grant and loan amount of 242.194 million dollars has been given by the government of Japan to support the program,” he said.
Shouchi appreciated Pakistan’s determination to do everything possible to ensure that all children receive the necessary vaccines. JICA Pakistan Office Chief Representative Miyata Naoaki said that vaccines, the most effective way to strengthen children’s immunity, will be used effectively with the understanding of parents and communities and the efforts of frontline workers. “We sincerely hope that this year’s entire polio campaign will be successfully conducted without polio cases,” he said.
Abdullah Fadal, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, said that the sharp increase in polio cases this year is a reminder of the urgent need to protect every child with the vaccine through campaigns and routine immunization. “With continued support from partners like Japan, UNICEF is fully committed to making Pakistan polio-free, ensuring that no child is left behind.”