Signing Ceremony for the Exchange of Notes for General Grant Aid for the Republic of Haiti (The Project for Reinforcement of the Immunization Program) through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

February 22, 2010
Japanese

The Government of Japan has decided to extend a grant aid of up to 183 million yen to the Government of the Republic of Haiti, through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Notes to this effect were exchanged on February 22 (Mon) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan between Mr. Koichi Takemasa, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Ms. June Kunugi, Director, United Nations Children’s Fund, Office for Japan and Korea. Mr. Jean-Claude Bordes, Charge d’Affaires ad interim of the Republic of Haiti in Japan, also in attendance, expressed his appreciation for this grant aid.
Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Latin American and Caribbean regions. It is said that more than half of the total population of approximately 9.61 million residents lives in absolute poverty, on less than one dollar per day. The child mortality rate of Haiti was at the extremely high level of 76 deaths per 1000 children according to 2007 statistics. Healthcare facilities and equipment in the country are insufficient. For this reason, the child mortality rate, particularly in the usual areas, is at an even higher level (114 deaths per 1000 children). In the midst of these circumstances, the Government of Haiti, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and other organizations are cooperating in order to provide immunizations including polio vaccines, diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccines, and BCG (tuberculosis) vaccines in order to reach the “reduction of the under-five mortality rate” goal included within the Millennium Development Goals.

In particular, there is concern that the future risk of infection in Haiti has magnified as the result of the earthquake which hit the country on January 12.
It is expected that, through this project, the progress of countermeasures against infection and the mortality rate among pregnant women and children under the age of 5 years of age will be decreased all of Haiti, including the city of Port-au-Prince, which has suffered damage as the result of the earthquake. At the same time, through the provision of cooling equipment and transfer of technology, the reinforcement of the immunization capabilities of Haiti’s healthcare facilities is also projected. It is additionally expected, through the reinforcement of the immunization system, that this project will contribute to the strengthening of countermeasures against the risk of infection which has heightened since the earthquake.

(Reference) The Republic of Haiti covers a land area of 27,500 square kilometers, has a population of approximately 9.61 million people (2007), and a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of 560 USD (World Bank, 2007).

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