JAPAN PROVIDES US$ 65 M TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN AGAINST POLIO

Islamabad, August 15, 2011 (PPI): The Government of Japan Monday announced to extend a soft loan of 4.993 billion Yen (approximately US$ 65 million) to the Government of Pakistan for polio eradication in Pakistan.

The notes were signed and exchanged between Mr. Hiroshi Oe, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Mr. Abdul Wajid Rana, Secretary Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan, in Islamabad.

"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 President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to Japan this February. This assistance is a good example of our commitment announced in the statement," Ambassador Oe stated.

This 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 Government of Japan has focused on polio eradication, which is indeed a global challenge on public health. 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.

At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Oe expressed his hope that this assistance will help alleviate the suffering of all the children, and the vaccine should also reach the children in the most inaccessible areas, especially around the border with Afghanistan. He further expressed his hope that Japan will take part in the important endeavor towards realization of polio-free Pakistan.