Japan to provide US$ 65mn for polio eradication

ISLAMABAD: The government of Japan has decided to extend a soft loan of US$ 65 million to the Government of Pakistan for polio eradication in the country.

This 4.993 billion Yen loan will be utilized to procure 165 million doses of oral polio vaccines and to raise allowance of vaccinators for polio eradication campaign.

The loan is extended on concessionary terms having an interest rate of 0.01% per annum and repayment period of 40 years, which includes a grace period of 10 years.

The notes were signed and exchanged in this regard between Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Hiroshi Oe and Secretary Economic Affairs Division, Abdul Wajid Rana here on Monday at a signing ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Hiroshi Oe said that this assistance will help alleviate the suffering of all the children. He said that the Japan has taken part in this important endeavor towards realization of polio-free Pakistan.

He expressed the hope that the vaccine will also reach the children in the most inaccessible areas, especially around the border with Afghanistan as there were outbreaks of polio in the areas around the border with Afghanistan.

He said if the project achieves the expected result, the third party will take over the loan repayment from the government of Pakistan, adding, this loan assistance could then become a virtual grant aid for the government of Pakistan.

He said following this yen loan project, Japan is preparing for additional assistance for polio eradication with further technical cooperation and grant aid.

He added by systematically mobilizing all the three schemes of Japanese ODA, Japan will support the noble attempt to completely eliminate polio from Pakistan in the near future based on the National Emergency Action Plan 2011.

He said the government of Japan has focused on polio eradication, which is indeed a global challenge on public health. He added from 1996 to 2010, Japan has provided approximately 87 million USD in total for the procurement of oral polio vaccines in collaboration with the UNICEF, aiming to wipe out polio from Pakistan.

In addition, Japan has sent medical experts to Pakistan for the expansion of routine immunization activities since 2006.

He said Japan's commitment to provide further support for the health sector in Pakistan, including this polio initiative, was given limelight in the joint statement on Japan-Pakistan comprehensive partnership, issued during the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to Japan this February.

"This assistance is a good example of our commitment announced in the statement," Ambassador Hiroshi Oe said.

He commended the Government of Pakistan, the UNICEF and the WHO for their efforts to contain polio. He paid tribute to the dedication of vaccinators, community-based health workers, volunteers and all the relevant staff who visit homes in challenging areas.

Secretary Economic Affairs, Abdul Wajid Rana thanked the government of Japan for timely assistance for eradication of polio and expressed the hope that it will continue its support to Pakistan in health sector.

UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Dan Rohrmann and WHO Acting Representative Dr. Ni'ma Saeed Abid also attended the ceremony.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011