Project “Strengthening of the health capacities for the COVID-19 crisis”

The project “Strengthening health capacity for the COVID-19 crisis” is implemented by UNICEF Cuba, with funding of 2,018,570 US dollars, from the Government of Japan and the participation of the Cuban authorities. 

The collaborative actions of this project are aimed at guaranteeing human security, by supporting the health system, the vaccination campaign and health education.

The project benefits a total population of 6.6 million people, including 1,271,231 children. It includes the purchase of equipment and supplies to contribute to strengthening the technical capacities of the country's health institutions and two science centers belonging to BIOCUBAFARMA, linked to vaccine development.

A total of 255 polyclinics in the provinces of Pinar del Río, Havana, Matanzas, Camagüey, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and the Special Municipality Isla de la Juventud strengthen their institutional capacities, as do 14 hospitals in Havana linked to maternal and child care, as well as the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and the Finlay Institute of Vaccines (IFV).

The acquired resources consist of equipment to strengthen the cold chain, vaccination supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), means to ensure adequate hygiene conditions, oxygen therapy accessories, high-performance ultrasound equipment for pediatric and obstetric hospitals and an equipped ambulance to support life, among others.

The project also enables the technical training of health personnel in charge of the immunization program, linked to pediatric care and neonatal nursing at the Primary Health Care level.

These actions seek to improve the institutional response and technical capacities of health care to treat complications linked to COVID-19, strengthen the technical capacities of health personnel in vaccine administration and maternal and child care, and help raise public awareness about the benefits of vaccines, COVID-19 prevention and other good practices.

This project, approved by the Government of Japan, is aligned with the Cuban Government's National Response Plan for the control and containment of COVID-19 and UNICEF's Emergency Response Plan for the health sector.

Results achieved by the project   

• Supplies for strengthening healthcare institutions in the 7 target provinces of the project: Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Matanzas, Camagüey, Pinar del Río, Guantánamo, Granma, plus the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud.
• Benefited institutions: 255 polyclinics, 14 maternity and child care hospitals, and vaccination centers established by the Expanded Program on Immunization.
• 2 BIOCUBAFARMA centers, linked to vaccine development: Finlay Vaccine Institute (IFV) and Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB).

Equipment for strengthening the cold chain (Expanded Vaccination Program)

• 447 prequalified refrigerators certified by the WHO for vaccine preservation.
• 1863 temperature control devices.
• 1200 thermos refrigerators with their ice packs.
• 2 freezers for CIGB and IFV laboratories, associated with vaccine production.

Equipment for strengthening Maternal and Child Health Program (PAMI)

• 1 state-of-the-art ambulance, intended to enhance timely care for critical maternity cases (serving 3 of the 7 target provinces).
• 6 high-performance ultrasounds for pediatric and obstetric hospitals in Havana (5) and Pinar del Río (1).

Disposable material

• 5,900,000 syringes with needles.
• 800 safety boxes for syringe disposal.
• 1070 dispensers of hydroalcoholic solution.
• 3600 gallons of hydroalcoholic solution.
• Approximately 10,000 healthcare workers will benefit from the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• 26,000 LED luminaires for polyclinics and hospitals.

Professional capacity strengthening

• 60 healthcare professionals from all provinces of the country (specializing in neonatology) update, share, and expand their technical capabilities and knowledge about neonatal care for preterm (premature) and critically ill newborns in the context of COVID-19.
• 63 healthcare professionals from all provinces of the country participate in a workshop with the aim of sharing experiences and identifying challenges in maternal and perinatal health in the post-COVID-19 context.
• 55 healthcare professionals from all provinces of the country participate in a workshop to update definitions, diagnosis, and management of Sepsis and Septic Shock in pediatric age.
• 30 healthcare professionals from all provinces of the country participate in a workshop to analyze vaccination coverage for different immunobiologics, assess compliance with surveillance indicators for various Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD), train in the use of continuous temperature monitoring for vaccine refrigerators, and discuss methodological and organizational aspects of the National Immunization Program.
• 45 healthcare professionals from all provinces of the country participate in a workshop to contextualize the analysis of the incidence, morbidity, and behavior of non-communicable chronic diseases in pediatric patients in the post-pandemic stage.