The Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has contributed US$6.3 million to UNICEF to support polio eradication and strengthen routine immunization across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. The 12-month initiative aims to reach over 12 million children under five with lifesaving polio vaccines through both supplementary immunization activities and routine services.
Afghanistan remains one of the last two countries where polio still threatens children’s lives. While cases of wild poliovirus have declined from 25 in 2024 to ten by December 2025, continued virus circulation in high-risk areas means that missed vaccinations leave children vulnerable and risk reversing progress. Sustained and uninterrupted immunization is therefore essential to protect every child and achieve polio eradication nationally and globally.
The urgency of vaccination efforts has been heightened by overlapping humanitarian pressures, including the August 2025 earthquakes that damaged health facilities and disrupted essential services. In addition, the return of millions of people to Afghanistan, many with limited or interrupted access to healthcare, increases the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio, measles, and whooping cough. These conditions make continuous and predictable vaccine supply crucial to safeguard recent gains and prevent outbreaks.
Ambassador Kenichi Masamoto emphasized Japan’s long-standing commitment to supporting polio eradication, noting the importance of maintaining continuity in vaccine supply to protect children’s lives. Mr. Sota Tosaka, Chief Representative of JICA Afghanistan, highlighted that Japan has supported Afghanistan’s health sector since 1974 and has worked closely with UNICEF for over two decades to strengthen immunization systems, including vaccine supply and cold chain capacity.
The funding will support the procurement and delivery of oral polio vaccines through both routine services and supplementary immunization activities, ensuring equitable access to vaccines in hard-to-reach and underserved areas. This approach aims to build immunity, stop poliovirus transmission, and advance Afghanistan’s polio eradication program.
UNICEF Deputy Representative Andrea James noted that ending polio in Afghanistan is within reach, but success depends on reaching every child every time. Japan’s continued support ensures that vaccines reach the most vulnerable children, including those in the hardest-to-reach communities, contributing to long-term child health, protection, and well-being.
Japan has been a key UNICEF partner in Afghanistan for over two decades, providing support for vaccine procurement, cold chain systems, and immunization programs. UNICEF expressed deep appreciation for Japan’s enduring commitment, which helps safeguard children from preventable diseases and provides hope for their survival and healthy development, even amid overlapping crises.
