The Global Polio Eradication Initiative works on a public-private partnership mode. The members are governments World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, UNICEF, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 20 million or more volunteers have supported the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in its goal to end polio worldwide since its inception.
The aim of the program is to assist and support developing countries with ‘Usive & Dynamic Development’ strategy. The strategy helps to resolve issues by using the innovative tools like technical cooperation, ODA Loans and funds.
Aim: Polio Eradication from Pakistan by 2013.
Financial support in the form of Loan (4.9 billion Japanese Yen (JPY)) from JICA.
Polio has been successfully reduced by 99 percent worldwide over the past 20 years, Pakistan is one of four countries where polio transmission has never been stopped.
Partnership on Polio Eradication announced by both Mr Bill Gates co – chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ms Sadaka Ogata President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Further, the campaign for eradication of polio in Pakistan by 2013 will be supported by a financing agreement of 4.9 billion JPY (approximately $65 million) as ODA Loan to the government of Pakistan.
Gates during his address said that “This partnership comes at a critical time for Pakistan and will help us achieve our shared goal of a polio-free world. Japan’s remarkable commitment will benefit generations of children in Pakistan and throughout the world.” Mr Gates further commented that the commitment of the Pakistani Government in unison with WHO, UNICEF and Rotary International is excellent and at par with the milestones set out.”
Report of the GPEI’s Independent Monitoring Board has highlighted the issue that although Pakistan has actively participated in the eradication of the polio yet the cases of polio in the country are high.
The Financing from the ODA loan will help in procuring oral polio vaccines, immunization workers, and vaccination activities. It will also help WHO, UNICEF, WB to work on common platform for vaccine procurement and service delivery for the polio campaign.
Under the ODA Loan the Gates foundation will repay on behalf of the Pakistani Government to JICA provided on successful implementation of the campaign. The mechanism is developed in a way that there will be no financial burden on the government.
Japan has been a long-standing donor to polio eradication and has funded initiatives and broader immunization in Pakistan since 1996. “We are delighted that JICA’s strong relationships with partner countries and valuable experience implementing a wide range of critical projects enable us to play a proactive role in harnessing innovation to benefit global aid delivery through collaborations with emerging private donors,” said Ms. Ogata. “We believe that JICA’s new Strategic Partnership with the Gates Foundation reflects JICA’s interest in playing a leading and catalyzing role in development issues.”
