Government of Japan’s support boosts cold chain system
All healthcare facilities across Bhutan are now well equipped to store vaccines at different temperatures
October 26, 2022, Thimphu: The Government of Japan (GoJ) handed over vaccine cold chain equipment worth USD 1.5Million to the Ministry of Health today. The consignment procured through UNICEF comprise of 2,134 cold chain equipment, 500 temperature monitoring devices and two generators. As a part of the support, extensive capacity building for biomedical professionals in the repair and maintenance of cold chain equipment was also carried out.
Officiating Health Secretary Pemba Wangchuk said, “The generous funding support from the GoJ played a key part in Bhutan’s successful COVID-19 vaccination roll out. Furthermore, all healthcare facilities across Bhutan are now equipped to meet cold chain requirements, as a result, greatly enhancing our capacity in taking vital vaccination services to far flung communities and hard to reach populations.”
In addition, a comprehensive cold chain assessment was conducted to better understand existing gaps and to map the cold chain equipment which is critical for ensuring equitable and appropriate distribution.
UNICEF Bhutan’s Representative a.i Marie-Consolée Mukangendo said, “The GoJ’s support was instrumental in Bhutan’s successful response to the pandemic, and it has contributed to achieving high COVID-19 vaccination coverage for children and adults including routine immunization coverage.”
She added that UNICEF remains committed to continue partnering with the GoJ and the Royal Government of Bhutan to ensure the wellbeing of the people of Bhutan.
The funding support also enabled the Ministry of Health to digitize monitoring of cold chain equipment with GIS mapping and online temperature excursion monitoring sensors. This means, the Vaccine Preventable Disease Program at the Ministry of Health will be able to better track and monitor online, the type of cold chain equipment, its location, its temperature, and other parameters. The mapping and sensor systems will alert the health staff and officials to take timely corrective actions in case of any temperature fluctuations, thereby, helping ensure vaccine efficacy at all times.
Media contacts
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.
