Grant to UNICEF

The Government of Japan agreed to extend to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) a grant assistance of 205 million yen for the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) project to eradicate poliomyelitis from India. Notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between H.E. Mr. Hideaki Domichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, and Ms. Karin Hulshof, Representative of UNICEF India country office today.

India is one of the 4 countries (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan) in which wild polio virus still remains, and is the most populous country among them. Therefore, a joint international effort is being made, involving the Government of India, UNICEF, WHO, donor countries and agencies, together with state governments and NGO’s.

Japan's Commitment

Japan has been supporting an Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) project in India since 1996. The cumulative amount of grant assistance up to this year will reach 8.0 billion yen.

Utilization of the Grant

Japan’s grant will be used for the purchase of oral polio vaccine.

Accomplishment of the aid

As a result of massive endeavour by the agencies involved, polio cases in India dropped to 874 cases in 2007 and 559 cases in 2008.