Maldives Handed Cold Chain Equipment Through UNICEF-Japan Initiative

 
In the global support for the battle against the Covid19 pandemic, Ministry of Health has been gifted more than 2400 items by UNICEF to strengthen cold chain and supply systems in the Maldives. This initiative is believed to have a positive and lasting impact on the health system’s capacity, including the vaccination efforts at the decentralized level. 
 
Items supplied includes freeze free vaccine carriers, temperature monitoring devices/tool kits, personal protection equipment (PPE) for vaccination staff and related ICT equipment as well as the setting up of a vaccine store. There will be more supplies coming in down the pipeline.  
 
Additionally, UNICEF will be providing technical support worth over USD 950,000 to address immediate capacity gaps in the health system needed to continue the COVID-19 response as well as strengthen the national immunization programme. 
 
The initiative is funded by the Government of Japan, a firm supporter to the Government of Maldives since the initial outbreak of the pandemic. Japan has committed grants to the Maldives health sector to address the urgent needs by providing emergency supplies and to mitigate the negative economic impacts over the past year.