Japan has pledged a $3.1 million grant to support Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio, focusing on the 2025 vaccination campaigns. This funding will help purchase over 20 million doses of the polio vaccine and strengthen Pakistan’s infrastructure for vaccination delivery.
The grant comes at a crucial time as polio cases in Pakistan have risen, with 59 cases reported this year. The funding will be used to ensure that the vaccination campaign reaches even the most remote areas, aiming to protect children under five years old from the disease.
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Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of the two countries where polio has not been eradicated. However, significant progress has been made, and the new funding will contribute to continued efforts towards polio elimination.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, Pakistan’s focal person for polio eradication, expressed confidence that with Japan’s support, the country will reach its goal of zero polio cases by mid-2025, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. National vaccination campaigns in Pakistan typically target over 45 million children under five, supported by more than 400,000 frontline workers, many of whom are women.
