countries for polio vaccination. Specific Japanese aid projects included the "Project for the Eradication of Poliomyelitis" (extension of polio vaccines) in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the "Project for the Construction of the Facilities for Measles Vaccine Production" in Vietnam, and the "Project for Infectious Disease Prevention for Children" (extension of polio and measles vaccines) in Afghanistan, Sudan, the Congo, Democratic Republic of (formerly Zaire), Ethiopia and Nigeria. Japan also dispatched experts and JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers) to these countries in this respect.

## (c) Tuberculosis

For the extension of the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatments) $ ^{18} $ in fiscal year 2003, Japan provided China with anti-tuberculosis drugs and testing equipment worth 450 million yen, dispatched 48 experts to eight countries, accepted 39 trainees from developing countries at the Research Institute of Tuberculosis and constructed an anti-tuberculosis center for anti-tuberculosis training, testing and research in Yemen.

## (d) Malaria

Based on the African aid initiative announced at the third Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD III) in September 2003, Japan pledged to extend one million bed nets to developing countries under a global anti-malaria measure in fiscal year 2003. In that year, Japan decided to provide Guinea, Eritrea, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Benin, Uganda, Swaziland, Mozambique, Madagascar, Cameroon, Niger, Djibouti and the Congo with insecticide-impregnated bed nets that remain effective over a long term. This is part of Japan's cooperation with UNICEF in health measures for mothers and children.

## (e) Parasitic Diseases

Japan has implemented human resources development and research activities for measures against malaria and other parasitic diseases at international parasite control centers Japan established in Thailand, Kenya and Ghana. Japan has also implemented NGO assistance and JOCV projects to fight against the guinea worm, filarial parasites, soil-transmitted parasites and the like. Japan has made the second greatest contribution after the United States to fighting against the guinea worm. The number of guinea worm-infected people in the world declined 98% from approximately 3.5 million in 1986 to approximately 55,000 in 2002. Japan is working to eradicate the guinea worm in the world. At the "International Parasite Workshop 2004" that Japan cosponsored in Bangkok in March 2004, former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto participated in reviewing the international anti-parasite initiative (Hashimoto Initiative) over the past five years.

## (f) Newly Emerging Infectious Diseases

In combating SARS, Japan sent an emergency aid team of experts to Vietnam in March 2003 and provided Vietnam with SARS treatment guidelines and infection prevention materials and equipment while cooperating and coordinating with the WHO and other relevant organizations as well as Hanoi's

A health worker confirms patients taking drugs ("Tuberculosis Control Project": Cambodia) (Photo: Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association)

Bach Mai Hospital subject to Japan's technical cooperation project. In April 2003, Japan provided the Philippines, Mongolia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Indonesia with anti-SARS equipment, testing materials, sample-preserving and transportation materials, and drugs and other medical materials. In May 2003, Japan extended medical materials and 1.5 billion yen in emergency grant aid to China and dispatched an international emergency aid team of experts to that country. At the Evian G8 Summit in June 2003, Japan pledged to work closely with the WHO and provide up to 6 million dollars in anti-SARS assistance through the World Bank and the Asian Development