Japan and UNICEF sign the project “Health capacity strengthening for the COVID-19 crisis” in Cuba

The Government of Japan and UNICEF sign the project “Health capacity strengthening for the COVID-19 crisis” as part of the efforts to reinforce the national health system of Cuba in the context of the pandemic.

The agreement constitutes a financial cooperation of 326,000,000 Japanese yen, equivalent to 2,970,297 US dollars.

27 October 2021 - This cooperation action has the objective of strengthening the national health system of Cuba in priority areas such as the acquisition of equipment and supplies meant for the cold chain, thus contributing to the rollout of vaccination, as well as to the diagnosis and timely attention of complications caused by COVID-19. On the other hand, it will contribute to the strengthening of the technical capacities of healthcare professionals on the areas of vaccination, mother-and-child health, health and hygiene educational measures and handwashing, among other priorities, as well as with protection equipment for healthcare personnel.

The project will also include the implementation of promotion and Communication for Development (C4D), focused on health education in the context of COVID-19, by means of communication and education actions aimed at behavioral change and the attainment of a culture of self-care in health.

It also provides for the generation of evidence, and the management and exchange of knowledge related to the scientific breakthroughs in the approach to mother-and-child care and to COVID-19.

Likewise, it provides for the strengthening of the institutional and technical capacities of the national healthcare system through the method of training trainers. As a result of that, the knowledge acquired in training will be shared with around 5,000 professionals in primary healthcare.

Vaccination centers in seven of the country’s provinces will be reached by the project, anticipating a coverage of 6.6 million people vaccinated against COVID-19 (more than 59% of the total Cuban population).

Likewise, 13 maternity hospitals will reinforce their services, benefitting more than 375,600 children and adolescents, and approximately 19,200 expectant mothers.

The development of the initiative considers the strengthening of the national healthcare system a long-term investment, which will contribute to the improved quality of healthcare services for the Cuban population.

This project, presented and approved by the Government of Japan, is in alignment with the National Response Plan of the Government of Cuba for the control and containment of COVID-19 and with UNICEF’s Emergency Response Plan for the health sector.

The agreement will be implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX), the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), the provincial Health Offices, BIOCUBAFARMA, the Finlay Vaccines Institute, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Regarding the important donation, the Representative of UNICEF Cuba, Mr. Brandão Có, remarked: “This project is a joint collaboration effort between the Government and people of Japan and UNICEF with Cuba, and it reflects the bonds of cooperation and friendship. Thanks to the generous help of the Government of Japan, the efforts made by the island to face the COVID-19 pandemic will be strengthened.”