ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: Japan on Monday pledged $4 million more grant to Pakistan for polio eradication initiative.

The Japanese assistance would be used to procure 23.8 million doses of oral polio vaccine — 10 per cent of next year’s total requirement of about 236 million doses.

The official notes of the agreement were exchanged by Japanese Ambassador Seiji Kojima and United Nations’ Fund for Children’s representative Martin Mogwanja.

Japanese government has so far provided $72.92 million for polio eradication since 1996.

Ambassador Kojima speaking at the signing ceremony expressed the hope that the grant would be used effectively to alleviate the sufferings of all the children, particularly those in the earthquake affected areas.

He said ultimate target of polio eradication can be achieved through continuous collaboration and involvement of thousands of health workers, volunteers and community workers.

Unicef representative while paying compliments to the continued Japanese assistance said: “If it weren’t for partners like the Government of Japan, Pakistan and indeed the world would not be on the verge of achieving the greatest public health achievement of all time “the eradication of polio”.

Unicef, along with other partners, has supported the government in conducting national polio immunisation days since 1994.