The government of Japan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) delivered to the Ministry of Public health two cold room units and freezer combined with all the accessories, mechanical and electrical equipment necessary to expand the storage capacity of the vaccines and strengthen the cold chain in the Dominican Republic, the ministry reported on Tuesday.
The total investment of the project was US$830,342.47 dollars.
The two cold room units will be installed in the Department of Immunopreventables by Vaccines (DIV). In addition, 243 refrigerators were distributed throughout the national territory to facilitate access and immunization coverage to the general population, with an emphasis on children, reports a press release.
The ambassador of Japan in the Dominican Republic, Takagi Masahiro, the Minister of Health, Daniel Rivera, the deputy representative of UnicefAnyoli Sanabria, and the director of the Department of Immunopreventable Diseases by Vaccines (DIV), Aída Lucía Vargas, led the award ceremony.
The Minister of Health thanked the Government of Japan already Unicef for the donation and stressed that the equipment will not only be used for the vaccines against COVID-19, but they will also strengthen the Immunization Program in regular schemes, guaranteeing the safe and free arrival of biologicals to all children in the country. In addition, it announced the construction of a warehouse in the province of Azua to install the second cold room unit.
Ambassador Takagi Masahiro expressed that Japan is committed to helping other nations realize their potential, especially in the field of health of the most vulnerable. For her part, the deputy representative of UnicefAnyoli Sanabria, highlighted the importance of the strategic alliance to increase vaccination rates and reduce gaps in coverage at the national level.
cold room units
The two cold room units include 88 72.5-liter SureChill refrigerators 110 98-liter capacity Vestfrost refrigerators 45 145-liter capacity Vestfrost refrigerators 30 remote temperature monitors for the refrigerators and walk-in coolers.
50 large cold boxes with a capacity of 22.5 liters for the transport of vaccines during vaccination days.
The distribution of refrigerators and other equipment in the cold chain was carried out by the Directorate of Immuno-preventable Diseases by Vaccines (DIV) to all the Provincial Directorates and Health Areas of the Ministry, as well as the National Health Service (SNS) and its national network of providers, guaranteeing the adequate storage of the vaccines and optimal temperatures.
The cooperation also included the training of personnel in the use and maintenance of the equipment. In addition, two Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles were included, manufactured according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), which act as mobile cold rooms with a range of internal temperature between +2°C and +8°C.
Immunization is a process that protects people against disease through contact with disease or administration of vaccines. Las vaccines stimulate the immune system to prevent infection and disease. Immunization prevents disease, disability, and death from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The cold chain is the logistical process of storage, conservation, handling and distribution of immunobiologicals to guarantee that they are kept within the established temperature ranges and maintain their immunizing potency from their manufacture to their administration.
The Dominican Republic has managed the cold chain for more than 40 years, recognizing the importance of maintaining the proper temperature for each type of vaccine and ensuring the effectiveness and safety of immunization.
2023-09-06 00:06:15
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