Nepal: Japan has provided grant assistance to
strengthen the vaccine cold chain system in Nepal through the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The vaccine cold chain systems include proper storage facilities
such as cold rooms, refrigerators, freezers in vaccine storage facilities,
refrigerator containers for transportation, cold boxes, among other supportive
equipment.
Under
its grant, Japan has
provided nine walk-in-coolers, 38 solar-driven vaccine refrigerators, 1,109
long-range vaccine carriers and 53 cold boxes to ensure proper storage,
management and transportation of Covid-19 vaccines in Nepal.
These
equipment have been delivered sequentially throughout Nepal since
last year and the delivery of all items was completed on January 30 this year.
Along with providing support to human resource development for the operation
and maintenance of cold chain equipment, the grant also reinforces monitoring
efforts for effective management of routine and Covid-19 vaccines by UNICEF.
“Nepal is currently experiencing the third wave
of Covid-19 with the Omicron variant, which makes the vaccine drive one of the
top priorities for the Government of Nepal,” said Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, Kikuta
Yutaka, in a press statement released by UNICEF on Monday.
“Proper
vaccine storage is crucial in the vaccine campaign and this grant aims to
drastically increase the capacity for storage and distribution of vaccines
across the country,” reads the statement.
The
walk-in-coolers are reportedly said to be transportable and can be installed
relatively quickly and inexpensively; the solar-driven refrigerators help
tackle storage issues faced by regions with interrupted electricity supply, and
the carriers and boxes enable vaccine distribution to communities inaccessible
by vehicles.
“I
hope this grant can expedite the process in reaching every person waiting for
the vaccine, and I sincerely hope the people of Nepal to regain normal, safe days,
overcoming the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic as soon as possible,” said
Kikuta.
Japan has so far donated
vaccines, ambulances, various medical and cold chain equipment to strengthen
the measures against Covid-19. Additionally, it recently decided to extend loan
assistance of up to 10 billion Japanese yen to the Nepal government for economic
recovery, growth and social resilience.
“We
are grateful to the Government of Japan for its continued support to Nepal in critical efforts to safely and
effectively deliver and store vaccines across the country, particularly at a
time when Nepal is battling
high numbers of Covid-19 infections during the current wave,” said Elke Wisch,
UNICEF Representative in Nepal.
“The cold chain equipment provided through Japan’s generous support will not only support Nepal’s current
Covid-19 vaccination drive, but also reinforce critical routine immunisation
services to protect children against main childhood diseases. A strengthened
vaccination system will further contribute to ensuring that the health system
is robust enough in case of future crises so that children, families, and
communities across Nepal
can be protected.”
UNICEF
has been working for years with the Nepal government as partners to
strengthen the country’s vaccine cold chain systems for routine immunisation.
After
the onset of Covid-19, UNICEF has been providing technical assistance to the
government of Nepal
to strengthen in-country supply chains systems and to ensure that adequate cold
chain capacity is in place to accommodate Covid-19 vaccines. It has also been
supplying syringes, developing a Covid-19 vaccination rollout guideline,
training health workers, and working with communities in addressing
misinformation and building trust in vaccines.
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