UNICEF welcomes approximately USD 5 million contribution from Japan to help strengthen Papua New Guinea’s immunization system during the global pandemic

Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, 3 August 2021 - The Government of Japan has contributed approximately USD 5 million (540 million Japanese Yen) to UNICEF in Papua New Guinea to help strengthen the capacity of vaccine cold chain logistics in support of the country’s COVID-19 response efforts.

Provincial health authorities and health facilities in 17 provinces in the country will benefit from this contribution that will help support vital cold chain logistics required to safely store and provide COVID-19 vaccines and also support the routine immunization programme by helping prevent the stock out of essential vaccines for children in the country.

Specifically, the funding will contribute to:

• Procurement, supply and installation of 172 vaccine refrigerators, and 4 cold rooms, to scale up the vaccine storage capacity in national, provincial and health facility level stores.
• Procurement of 30 vehicles to support and improve immunization service delivery through mobile and outreach clinics, and distribution of vaccines to communities in hard to reach areas.
• 6 incinerators to safely treat clinical waste in health facilities.
• 2 generators to ensure uninterrupted power supply needed to maintain effective vaccine temperatures at the national and provincial vaccine store during power outages.

Secretary for the National Department of Health, Dr. Osborne Liko said: “Papua New Guinea is grateful for the friendship and support of the Government of Japan and the Japanese people. In our time of need Japan has come to our aid. This donation will greatly assist Papua New Guinea’s efforts to bolster the country’s response to COVID-19 and will also go a long way to strengthen the system so that we are better placed to manage routine immunization into the future.”

Japanese Ambassador to PNG Mr. Kuniyuki Nakahara said: “Vaccination is the key to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and it is also necessary to secure the logistical aspect to ensure PNG’s vaccination program is successful. This Grant Aid is aimed at assisting the delivery of vaccines to each and every person who wishes to get vaccinated in all corners of PNG. In addition to supporting the development of cold chains for vaccines, Japan will also provide vaccines to PNG through COVAX in collaboration with UNICEF.”

“UNICEF is extremely grateful to the Government of Japan for its generous contribution that will not only improve COVID-19 vaccine management but will also significantly support the implementation of an ongoing robust rehabilitation plan that started in 2017, aimed at improving the country’s immunization supply chain to help scale up routine immunization vaccine distribution in the long run,” UNICEF Representative, Dr. Kamenga said. 

“An effective cold chain system is key to ensuring the potency of vaccines at different levels of the immunization supply chain in a country,” UNICEF Representative, Dr. Kamenga added.

UNICEF is working with the Papua New Guinea Government to help prevent the spread of the virus among communities, as well as supporting the vital procurement of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility.

This funding is part of the broader Japanese grant aid of approximately USD 20,632,326 (JPY 2,253,000,000) to 14 countries* in the Pacific.

*Countries: the Cook Islands, the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated State of Micronesia, the Republic of Nauru, Niue, the Republic of Palau, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu and the Republic of Vanuatu