Japan gives K18 million for polio

Eighteen million kina has been committed by the Japanese government towards PNG's fight against the deadly poliovirus.

A signing ceremony for the exchange of notes formalizing this assistance between Health Minister Elias Kapavore and Japanese Ambassador Mochizula Hisonobu was held in Port Moresby on Monday.

The Japanese government has come on board to assist PNG fight the deadly poliovirus.

As per World Health Organization recommendations, there was a need for round three to reach the 95% immunization coverage for children between zero and 10 years old.

The two rounds of vaccination last year only reached over 80% coverage.

Minister Kapavore expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for this generous support.

"I want to make it very clear that the Ministry of Health will provide all necessary support to implement these activities on time and with highest quality.

"We are committed to full cooperation at every level, from our National Department of Health to our provincial health authorities and our dedicated frontline workers." Kapavore said.

The third round of vaccination will start next month and into April for the four high-risk provinces of Morobe, Enga, NCD and Central.

Ambassador Hisonobu says Japan remains committed to supporting PNG with this funding to strengthen routine immunization and ramp up surveillance.

"The project will also enable a third round of targeted vaccination campaigns in high-risk provinces, expand acute flaccid paralysis and environmental surveillance, and establish laboratory capacity for poliovirus detection in various provinces."