ISLAMABAD: Japanese Government provided cold chain optimisation equipment worth $6.59 million, to enhance the storage capacity vaccine in Pakistan.
Pakistan received optimisation equipment worth $6.59 million, from Japanese government through UNICEF, for enhancing national capacity for Covid-19 vaccine storage.
According to a statement issued by the National Health Sservices Ministry, Parliamentary Secretary on Health Dr Nausheen Hamid received the equipment from Japanese Ambassador Matsuda Kuninori in the presence of Unicef Representative in Pakistan Aida Girma at a ceremony held in the National Emergency Operation Centre, Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI).
“We greatly value the significant contributions made by Japan during the last 70 years of its diplomatic relations with Pakistan,” Dr Nausheen Hamid said.
“Over the years, the two countries have partnered in various sectors, including health, education and power,” the parliamentary secretary said.
She further said the EPI in Pakistan had a strong cold chain system that was considered the backbone of the programme as it handled and stored massive quantities of vaccines, inclusive of all kinds of Covid-19 doses.
“It is, however, important to know that the cold chain system can be risky in countries which have extreme temperatures and the power supply is unreliable,” Dr Hamid said, adding that she was grateful to the Japanese government for providing the cold chain optimisation equipment for vaccine storage and “ensuring quality check as it would definitely strengthen our existing system”.
The equipment procured through funds from Japan include power generators, voltage regulators and temperature monitoring devices which will enhance vaccine storage capacity of EPI, especially at provincial and district levels where power outage and voltage fluctuation are frequent.
The new equipment would help ensure optimum temperature control in storage facilities and maintain the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Japanese funds will also be used for strengthening the capacity of healthcare staff to handle the cold chain equipment.
Tokyo has extended a total of $23.5 million grant assistance to Islamabad for its counter-Covid-19 measures, including provision of hygiene items, medical equipment and training of healthcare staff.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Matsuda said Japan had prioritised the health sector as part of its development cooperation policy for Pakistan for decades, including Maternal and Child Health, Polio Eradication, Routine Immunisation and Counter-Covid-19 measures.
He expressed his hope to open a new area of cooperation in future partnership with Pakistan in the health sector, suggesting that tackling diabetes could be one such sphere.
Unicef Representative Aida Girma said the ceremony reinforced the longstanding support of Japan to Unicef in its efforts to procure vaccines and essential equipment for strengthening immunisation services in Pakistan.
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