Press Release

The Government of Japan assures its continuous support for the Polio Eradication Initiative in Pakistan by extending a grant of US $ 4.42 million (403 million-yen) to procure 25.7 million doses of oral polio vaccine. This vaccine will be administered to Pakistani children under the age of five.

Official Exchange of Notes (E/N) to this effect were signed and exchanged between His Excellency Mr. Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Mr. Martin Mogwanja, UNICEF Representative, Pakistan. Dr. Rashid Jooma, Director General Health, the Government of Pakistan and Mr. Tomoharu Otake, Chief Representative, JICA Pakistan office were also present to witness the signing.

The Government of Japan’s support for the year 2010 constitutes 10% of the total polio vaccine requirement in Pakistan. The total contribution of the Government of Japan to this project since 1996 adds up to US $ 82.18 million, a sum, amounting to 28% of the total requirement so far, which has been significant in reducing the number of polio cases. JICA also started a technical cooperation project from 2006 to 2011 with the funding of 3.4 million US dollars for controlling the spread of infectious diseases including polio.

While addressing those present at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Chihiro Atsumi said that Japan is proud of the 14 year-long partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health of the Government of Pakistan. He also stated that the target is to bring the transmission of the debilitating poliovirus to an end, and this is certainly achievable through continuous effort with the involvement of tireless assistance of thousands of health workers, volunteers and community workers.

Ambassador Atsumi also expressed his hope that the Japanese grant aid would be used effectively to alleviate the suffering of all the children, especially of those children who are in the earthquake affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, mountainous regions of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and FATA.

GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN’S CONTRIBUTION SO FAR:
The total contribution of the Government of Japan to this project so far, adds up to 9,276 million-yen (approx. US $ 82.18 million). The break-up of which is as follows:

Japanese FY (April to March next year)	Date of signing E/N	Amount in Million Yen (E/N Based)	Vaccine Procured through Japanese Grant (million doses)	Total Vaccine Procured (million doses)		Proportion of Oral Polio Vaccine procured through Japanese grant
1996	Jun.17, 1996	231 (approx. US $ 2.21 million)	17.389	44.2		39%
1997	Mar.20, 1998	205 (approx. US $ 1.6 million)	18.75	45.2		41%
1998	Oct.30, 1998	416 (approx. US $ 3.1 million)	23.65	46.4		51%
1999	Mar.24, 2000	636 (approx. US $ 6 million)	60	137.9		43%
2000	Mar.21, 2001	985 (approx. US $ 8 million)	65	125.5		52%
2001	Dec.20, 2001	997 (approx. US $ 8 million)	78	197.1		40%
2002	Dec.14, 2002	1,181 (approx. US $ 9.6 million)	97	189		51%
2003	Dec.18, 2003	1,083 (approx. US $ 10 million)	93	220		42%
2004	Oct.29, 2004	1,103 (approx. US $ 10.2 million)	93	160		58%
2005	Nov. 10 2005	721 (approx. US $ 6.5 million)	46	164		28%
2006	Dec, 15, 2006	450 (approx. US $ 3.85 million)	27.77	300		9.3%
2007	Dec, 3, 2007	443 (approx. US $ 4 million)	23.8	236		10%
2008	Jan 29, 2009	422 (approx. US $ 4.7 million)	26.2	383.7		7%
2009	Dec 09, 2009	403 (approx. US $ 4.42 million)	25.7	259		10%
Total		9,276 (approx. US $ 82.18 million)			28%