Japan pledges $5 million for polio eradication efforts in Afghanistan

KABUL (Amu tv): Japan has committed $5 million to support polio eradication and strengthen routine immunization efforts in Afghanistan, according to a statement released by UNICEF on Thursday.

The funding, provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will enable UNICEF to deliver lifesaving polio vaccines and bolster immunization systems across all 34 provinces of the country over the next 12 months. The initiative aims to reach more than 13 million children, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.

“Eradicating polio in Afghanistan is within reach,” said Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “This partnership with the Government of Japan will help us reach the hardest to reach with high-quality immunization services and put an end to polio in Afghanistan.”

Afghanistan remains one of only two countries where wild poliovirus is still endemic. While health indicators have improved over the past two decades — including a decline in under-five mortality from 125 to 56 deaths per 1,000 live births between 2001 and 2021 — access to basic health services remains limited, especially in remote and conflict-affected regions.

A resurgence of polio cases in 2023 underscored lingering immunity gaps, particularly among mobile populations and in previously inaccessible areas, prompting renewed urgency in vaccination efforts. The UNICEF statement noted that prior Japanese support has helped improve vaccine cold chain systems and national immunization coverage.

“Complementing our continuous support to UNICEF in high-quality immunization for over two decades, we hope this latest drive will improve the health and lives of children and families throughout the country,” said Takayoshi Kuromiya, Japan’s ambassador to Afghanistan.

The new funding will support vaccine procurement, health worker training, and logistical infrastructure, and is expected to fill critical operational gaps for 2025. UNICEF says the goal is to interrupt transmission of all wild and vaccine-derived polioviruses, in line with the country’s polio eradication strategy.