Japan has given a grant of Japanese Yen 600 million (approximately US $7.85 million or N1.24 billion) to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for child survival programmes in Nigeria.
?The grant is for polio- eradication, strengthening cold chain system especially for routine immunization and support for maternal, new- born and child health weeks (MNCHWs) in Nigeria.
?At the signing ceremony and the exchange of notes, yesterday, in Abuja, between the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr Ryuichi Shoji, and the UNICEF representative, Dr Suomi Sakai, witnessed by the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, the ambassador said that his country has been making sustained efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and polio in Nigeria with the cooperation of UNICEF.
According to him, Japan’s financial contribution in the fight against polio in Nigeria amounts to more than 7 billion Yen, about N14 billion and added that, “Today, I am absolutely honoured to be here once again to sign and present a check of 600 million Yen which is approximately N1.2 billion.”
?However, he said, “We must not forget that our lofty goal is yet to be achieved. Polio has not been completely eradicated. It is said, the last step counts as much as half of the road already taken. Mortality rate of children under five years of age and maternal mortality rate in Nigeria are still high. We still need to make progress.”