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This brings to almost eight million, six hundred thousand dollars (USD 8,600,000) in total, the amount that Japan has extended to UNICEF for the procurement of mosquito nets and vaccines from the period 2006 - 2009.
Today, His Excellency Mr Koichi Morita, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Zimbabwe and Mr Roeland Monasch, Resident Representative a.i., Harare Office, UNICEF, signed and exchanged the official notes to formalise the grant at a signing ceremony at UNICEF Harare Office. The grant will be used for the procurement of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) against malaria and vaccines for three types of preventable infectious diseases.
In the malaria component, the grant provides for the importation of approximately one hundred and fifty thousand LLINs to reduce morbidity and mortality attributed to malaria among children under five, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups such as people living with HIV/Aids in five districts countrywide. The selected districts include Murewa, Lupane, Tsholotsho, Kwe Kwe and Mwenezi. This contribution is expected to greatly assist the Zimbabwean Government’s Roll Back Malaria Initiative.
In the vaccine component, the grant provides for the procurement of vaccines for three preventable infectious diseases. These are BCG, Polio and Measles. The drugs will directly support the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation, ZEPI.
This the fourth successive year that Japan has supported UNICEF to eradicate infectious diseases. To date, and not including the present contribution, UNICEF has procured and distributed nearly 602,295 LLINs.
Such support has been extended with a view to making positive contributions towards Zimbabwe achieving Millenium Development Goals No.4 (reduce child mortality) No. 6 (combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases) and No. 7 (ensure environmental sustainability).
Speaking at the occasion, H.E. Ambassador Morita paid tribute to UNICEF in its ongoing efforts to combat the current cholera outbreak. Recently, the Government of Japan extended a grant of USD 1.5 million to UNICEF to combat the disease.
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