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Japan Donates Cold Chain Equipment for COVID-19 Vaccines to Philippines

MANILA – The Japanese government through UNICEF Philippines donated PhP36 million worth of cold chain equipment to the country to help strengthen its novel coronavirus vaccination.

The donation includes walk-in cold rooms and freezers, solar-powered refrigerators, power generators, temperature monitoring devices, spare parts, and thermal jackets, according to UNICEF Philippines’ press release.

“Around 35 provinces all over the Philippines including geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas such as Batanes, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, disaster-prone places such as Albay and Cagayan, and the National Vaccine store will receive the cold chain equipment and training on how to use and maintain them,” it stated.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa thanked UNICEF for this partnership that "produced tangible results in many ways."

"We are thankful to be in close cooperation once again with UNICEF for yet another invaluable mission,” he said.

"We hope these equipment will be instrumental in bringing lifesaving support to Filipino children and their families nationwide. By working together, I am certain that we can make a lasting difference in their lives," he added.

For UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, the donation of Japan will support filling the critical gaps in the supply/cold chain in the country.

“We can improve COVID-19 vaccination roll-out and the routine immunization services with the adequate equipment and skills,” he said. “We thank the Government of Japan for their untiring efforts in promoting the health and well-being of Filipino children.” - Florenda Corpuz

(Article cover photo courtesy of © UNICEF Philippines/2021/Julian Abram Wainwright | Officials and representatives from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, UNICEF and the City Government of Manila welcome the arrival of cold chain equipment to strengthen vaccination in the Philippines, which is part of the Government of Japan's support to the COVID-19 response in the Philippines through UNICEF.)