The Japanese International Co-operation Agency, JICA, donated cold chain equipment worth Nu. 3.5 million to the health ministry yesterday. The equipment includes Kerosene refrigerators, ice lined refrigerators, vaccine carrier and spare parts for the refrigerators.
The equipment were received on behalf of the ministry by the Medical Supply Depot in Phuentsholing.The grant comes as assistance to the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, a technical co-operation project between Bhutan and Japan.
A press release from the ministry states that the new refrigerators will replace the old ones that have been in use for more than 15 years. Some will be distributed among new Basic Health Units across the country. The refrigerators,run on kerosene will help in storing vaccines at BHUs without electricity.
Donor agencies like UNICEF, WHO and Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation have also been actively involved in sustaining Bhutan’s immunisation coverage.
