with direct observation to ensure that patients take their anti-tuberculosis medications (DOTS: Directly Observed Treatments, Short-course), in accordance with the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-2015 formulated on the basis of international collaboration in the field of tuberculosis. Japan has provided tuberculosis medication and clinical equipment, prioritizing countries facing serious tuberculosis problems, including those amongst WHO’s High Burden Countries for tuberculosis. Japan also dispatches TB experts to countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Zambia, and Cambodia to strengthen management structures of local anti-tuberculosis programs, as well as to provide training, supervision and guideline support for improving testing capacities. Through these efforts, Japan has contributed to the expansion and promotion of DOTS. Japan’s cooperation has also steadily shown results in other countries. Out of the 22 High Burden Countries for tuberculosis, in which 80% of the world’s tuberculosis patients are concentrated, the three countries of China, Viet Nam, and the Philippines have achieved international goals. For these countries, Japan has provided integral assistance through technical cooperation and grant assistance. In FY2007, Japan continued to address TB issues by, for example, helping Zambia strengthen anti-TB measures through NGOs.

## Malaria

In FY2007, Japan provided Burkina Faso with approximately 23,000 mosquito nets to decrease the rate of infection and death from malaria that seriously troubled the country. Japan also promotes partnerships with UNICEF and other international organizations, and, through the partnerships, has distributed approximately 10.3 million mosquito nets as of the end of 2007. According to UNICEF estimates, 10 million mosquito nets distributed with the help from Japan can prevent the deaths of 160,000 children under five years old in Africa. Other efforts by Japan in FY2007 include assistance to the Solomon Islands in Oceania for effective malaria control through appropriate diagnosis and sanitation, an information system on malaria, and improved capacity of doctors and nurses.

## Polio

The world is facing the last stage in the efforts towards polio eradication. In 2000, WHO issued a complete polio eradication manifesto for the Western Pacific region. As a result, the number of polio epidemic countries was reduced to the four countries of Nigeria, India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. WHO has been concentrating its assistance to these four polio epidemic countries in order to completely eradicate polio. Japan, taking account of this WHO strategy to eradicate polio, offers assistance to provide polio vaccines in cooperation with UNICEF and other institutions, targeting the four countries and countries with risks of infection. In FY2007, assistance for Nigeria was especially strengthened, considering the fact that Nigeria was the only epidemic country in Africa and that more than 80% of imported polio cases resulted from that country.

## Parasitic Diseases

Recently, “neglected tropical diseases” have been drawing attention, such as Chagas’ disease, Guinea Worm disease, filariasis, and schistosomiasis. Japan has been making serious efforts to combat Chagas’ disease in Central American countries and its support to develop the structure for preventing vehicular transmission has led to a significant reduction of infectious diseases risk. Regarding filariasis, which brings long-term harm to people’s health and social life as parasites remain in the human body, Japan has been cooperating with WHO in efforts toward eradicating filariasis in the Oceania region by 2010 and in Bangladesh by 2015. Through the distribution of anti-parasitic agents and education materials, as well as prevention education provided by JOCV, Japan has contributed to a significant reduction in the number of patients newly infected and has helped to maintain the non-epidemic status of the disease.

## Emerging Infectious Diseases and Pandemic Influenza

Avian influenza, one of the emerging infectious diseases, is of serious concern in the Asian region in particular. In the event of mutation of the virus causing pandemic influenza, it would endanger the entire world. In FY2007, Japan announced additional grant assistance totaling US$69 million against avian and pandemic influenza. As a part

(Source: AFP=Jiji)