Japan and UNICEF build Paraguay's vaccine storage capacity

ASUNCIÓN, September 1, 2021. Today the Government of Japan and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) delivered seven combined solar refrigerators and freezers to the Ministry of Public Health & Social Welfare (MSPyBS) in order to build Paraguay’s anti-COVID-19 vaccine storage capacity.

The equipment was presented in a ceremony held at the main offices of the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI) and was attended by the Minister of Health, Julio Borba; the Ambassador of Japan in Asunción, Nakatani Yoshie; the Vice Minister of Health, Lida Sosa; the PAI Director, Héctor Castro; as well as the representative of UNICEF Paraguay, Rigoberto Astorga, among others.

“It is a pleasure to be able to deliver the first batch of equipment to the Government of Paraguay to strengthen the country’s cold chain systems for vaccine storage, as part of the non-reimbursable emergency financial cooperation granted by the Government of Japan with the collaboration of UNICEF,” stated the Japanese Ambassador.

On behalf of the Ministry of Health, Vice Minister Sosa expressed her gratitude for the contribution of Japan and the collaboration of UNICEF for the equipment received. The PAI Director highlighted: "We will now be able to ensure that almost 200,000 inhabitants will access the vaccine".

The UNICEF representative appreciated the trust of the Japanese people in UNICEF to manage the acquisition of the equipment and added that the cooperation also includes the training of human resources on the use of technology.

The total investment of the seven refrigerators reaches US$ 58,000, and the equipment will be distributed in towns of the Chaco such as Fuerte Olimpo, Bahía Negra, Mariscal Estigarribia and Tte. Manuel Irala Fernández.

Each equipment will store 200,000 doses, thereby ensuring the storage of 1,400,000 biologicals in remote locations.

The equipment was provided as part of the non-reimbursable financial cooperation from the Government of Japan to the Republic of Paraguay for a value of US$ 2,391,000 to strengthen the cold chain for anti-COVID-19 vaccine conservation. The aid seeks to benefit approximately 1,500,000 inhabitants.

The cooperation is to help the MSPyBS build the capacity of the National Immunization Program, and also provides training on the use and maintenance of cold chain conservation equipment to technical and health personnel.

This activity is part of the technical support provided by UNICEF to the response of the Government of Paraguay to the COVID-19 pandemic.