Japan's grant to Côte d’IvoireAbidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 28 November 2007 – A ceremony for handing over a grant from the Japanese Government to Côte d’Ivoire took place today at the Coordination Department of the Enhanced Programme of Immunization (CD EPI) in the presence of Mr. Allah Kouadio Rémy, the Ivorian Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Mr. Kazuhiko Nishiuchi, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Côte d’Ivoire and Mr. Youssouf Oomar, UNICEF Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire. The grant, amounting to Three Million Five Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand Three Hundred and Forty-Two US dollars (US$ 3,587,342) or about 2 billion CFA Francs concerns the supply of vaccines, cold chain equipment and long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets, under the project “Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Côte d’Ivoire, Phase II”. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed last 20 February by Mr. Kazuhiko Nishiuchi and Mr. Youssouf Oomar in the presence of the Ivorian Minister of Health and Public Hygiene. The Japanese grant will be used to purchase vaccines for routine vaccination in the framework of the eradication of poliomyelitis and improve the cold chain to ensure better conservation of the vaccines. Moreover, through this grant, 300,000 families in Côte d’Ivoire, composed of children under five years and pregnant women – the groups most vulnerable to malaria -, could be efficiently protected against this disease through the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets. For Mr. Nishiuchi, “This grant is a concrete expression of Japan’s commitment to participate actively in the eradication of poliomyelitis and the fight against malaria.” “Malaria is the primary cause of mortality among children in Côte d’Ivoire. The Government of Japan confirms, through this grant, its desire to play a key role in the fight against malaria and infectious diseases in Africa. UNICEF commends this tripartite collaboration – Government of Japan, UNICEF, Ivorian Ministry of Health – which has just been added to the efforts to be made by all under the Accelerated Strategy for the Survival and Development of the Child in Côte d’Ivoire”, added Mr. Oomar. The Honourable Minister, in turn, thanked the Government of Japan for having understood the urgent need to offer these grants in the framework of the fight against infectious diseases and malaria in our country and gave the assurance that the grant would contribute to significantly improve the health status of the most vulnerable population groups. Composition of the Grant * * * *
Gobe Siaka, Cooperation Officer, Embassy of Japan in Côte d’Ivoire. Emma Bossoh, Communication Officer, CD EPI.
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