Japanese gov’t announces $1 million to aid COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

JUBA — The government of Japan on Friday announced a contribution of $1 million to the UN children’s agency, UNICEF to improve cold chain management and support the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in the country.

The contribution is part of Emergency Grant Aid of approximately $39 million to Latin American, the Caribbean and African countries.

The contribution aims to provide “Last One Mile Support” to ensure vaccination throughout the country. 

“We thank the Government of Japan for this important financial contribution. Cold chain capabilities are essential for storing and transporting vaccines which need to be kept at cool temperatures to remain effective, including the COVID-19 vaccines,” said Hamida Lasseko, UNICEF Representative in South Sudan in a press statement extended to Sudans Post today.

Lasseko said the contribution will help South Sudan in its COVID-19 vaccination efforts and enhanced infrastructure, storage, transportation and training for healthcare staff.

Tsutsumi Naohiro, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of South Sudan, expressed the hope that Japan’s series of assistance in cooperation with UNICEF helps improve the public health service in South Sudan. 

“I hope that this emergency grant, together with the previous year’s assistance, contributes to delivering necessary medical services including vaccines to every person in the country with a view to containing COVID-19 as quickly as possible, which accordingly saves more lives,” Naohiro said.

“The funds provided by the Government of Japan are essential to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The investment in the cold chain system will also serve the immunization programme to reach all women and children in South Sudan with life saving vaccines,” he said.

The world’ youngest nation received 132,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility on March 25, 2021.

The country launched its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in the capital Juba on April 6 and about 5,149 people received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

South Sudan has so far reported 10,613 infections and 115 deaths.