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Japan-India Relations
Press Release No.15

  JAPAN SUPPORTS POLIO ERADICATION CAMPAIGN IN INDIA

NEW DELHI: June 9, 2006
Rs.19 Crore Grant to UNICEF 

   The Government of Japan agreed today to extend to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) a grant assistance of Rs.19 Crore (456 million yen) for the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) campaign to eradicate poliomyelitis from India. Notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between H.E. Mr. Yasukuni Enoki, Ambassador of Japan to India, and Mr. Cecilio Adorna, Representative, UNICEF India Country Office, at a ceremony held in the Embassy of Japan today.

Polio Eradication Campaign in India

    Polio eradication campaign is a world-wide program to wipe out poliomyelitis from the earth. Presently, 16 countries remain to be declared polio-free.
    India is the most populous country among them; so a joint international effort is being made, involving the Government of India, UNICEF, WHO, donor countries and agencies, together with state governments and NGOs

Japan’s Commitment

    Japan has been supporting the Polio Eradication Campaign in India since 1996. The cumulative amount up to this year will reach Rs. 300 Crore (7.4 billion yen).
    As a result of the massive endeavour by the agencies involved, polio cases dropped dramatically to 66 cases last year. Japan reaffirms its commitment to support the campaign to achieve zero transmission in India by the end of 2006.

   
Utilization of the Grant

    Japan’s grant will be used for the purchase of 33 million doses of oral polio vaccine. The Target area is the north-eastern states and West Bengal.