ISLAMABAD: The International Development Association (IDA) has approved a credit of $50 million for Pakistan for procurement of vaccines for infectious diseases, including polio, for children under two years of age.

The National Immunisation Support Project (NISP) is supporting the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), which aims to immunise all children against the eight vaccine-preventable diseases — tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza type-b (Hib) and measles.

The project, approved on Thursday, will increase the provincial governments’ capacity for rigorous monitoring and effective implementation of the programme, including strengthened vaccine logistics and deployment of qualified technical and managerial personnel.

Strengthening the EPI will also support Pakistan’s access to newer vaccines which are either in the process of rollout (pneumococcal vaccine) or under planning (rotavirus vaccine).

The project is also receiving additional support of $80m in grant from a World Bank-administered multi-donor trust fund, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the United States Agency for International Development.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is also supporting the project through an innovative partial conversion of the IDA credit into a grant upon successful achievement of the project objectives.

“Pakistan is grappling with the public health emergency of polio virus transmission. Ensuring strong routine immunisation services is the first essential pillar in polio eradication,” said Illango Patchamuthu, the World Bank’s Country Director for Pakistan.

“World Bank and other development partners are working with the government of Pakistan to strengthen routine immunisation services at the critical endgame stage of polio eradication, particularly as Pakistan introduces injectable polio vaccines into its routine schedule.

“Pakistan’s performance in maternal and child health remains weak and inadequate immunisation coverage is a major challenge. Childhood immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases can help reduce disability and death,” said Robert Oelrichs, the World Bank Task Team Leader of the project.

“The project will establish links of the federal and provincial EPI cells with private sector health providers and civil society organisations working in low coverage catchment areas, especially urban slums,” he added.

Children under two years of age in Pakistan are the main beneficiaries of the NISP, particularly those belonging to the poorest households in which immunisation coverage is lowest. In addition, all children will benefit from strengthened polio and measles interventions.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2016