UNICEF welcomes US$2.2M contribution from Japan to strengthen immunization information system in Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY, 20 MARCH 2023 -The Government of Japan has contributed US$ 2 2
million to UNICEF in Papua New Guinea to help strengthen PNG’s digital health information
systems and efforts that will enhance capacity for improved immunization coverage and
infectious disease control.

This donation amongst others will support the development and use of digital
immunization tools to monitor coverage of an upcoming measles rubella vaccination
campaign and monitoring in health facilities and at the community level across 22
provinces More than one million children under five years will be indirectly impacted by
this.

“UNICEF is grateful to the Government of Japan for this generous support that will
contribute significantly to improving health information systems that are still largely paper
based in PNG. This will ultimately increase immunization coverage countrywide through
the establishment of effective vaccine delivery and information system,” said Vikas Singh,
OIC UNICEF Representative.

Specifically, the funding will help pilot the Geographical Information System (GIS) for micro planning in two provinces to improve immunization delivery strategies to reach missed children. A remote health worker training using the Moodle Application will enhance the capacity of 400 health workers to provide quality services for C OVID 19 and Routine Immunization and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

The government of Japan provided cold chain equipment for COVID 19 vaccines worth
US$8 million over two phases so far in collaboration with UNICEF. Japan will support
efforts to strengthen digital health information systems in PNG to manage immunisation
data including inventory of cold cha i n equipment Through this project, I expect that health
system in PNG will improve and make operations more efficient Japanese Ambassador
to PNG Mr. Nobuyuki Watanabe said.

UNICEF has been working with the Government of Papua New Guinea to improve
immunization coverage, improve the quality of vaccines and prevent the spread of
infectious diseases among communities, as well as supporting the vital procurement of
COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility.

This funding is part of a Japanese grant aid of roughly USD 9,000,000 (JPY 1,223,352,000)
to Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.