Japan donates $5m to eradicate polio in Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Japan has donated $5 million to UNICEF to help it eradicate polio and strengthen vaccination services in Afghanistan.

UNICEF Representative Tajuddin Oywaile told a meeting in Kabul that the donation would be spend on delivering high-quality vaccines to 34 provinces of Afghanistan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and to eradicate polio.

He added: “It is possible to eliminate polio in Afghanistan and this partnership with the Japanese government and the generosity of the Japanese people are helping us achieve this historic goal. With this donation, we will be able to deliver vaccines to the most remote areas and ensure polio eradication.”

According to UNICEF, more than 13.3 million children would be vaccinated in the next 12 months with the aid from Japan.

Tajuddin said Japan has been cooperating with UNICEF for nearly two decades, including purchasing traditional vaccines (measles, mumps, rubella, and polio), strengthening vaccine storage systems, and providing technical assistance.

He added that the $5 million grant will help fill vaccine supply gaps and human resource needs by 2025, and deliver high-quality vaccines to areas with limited health services.

Takayoshi Kurumiya, Japan’s ambassador to Kabul, also spoke at the event, saying  Afghanistan remained one of the countries where polio was still endemic and that a systematic nationwide vaccination campaign was required in this regard.

He added: “The Japanese government and people understand the importance of eliminating polio in Afghanistan. We hope that this new grant will yield positive results in improving the health of children and families.”

He called the grant another example of Japan’s continued support for Afghanistan’s health sector.

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