About MK 574million (US$725,000) of this funding will support Malawi in its COVID-19 vaccination efforts by improving cold chain capabilities through enhanced infrastructure, equipment, transportation and training for healthcare staff.
Cold chain capabilities are essential for storing and transporting vaccines at the required temperatures if they are to remain effective.
The grant will boost the capacity of Malawi’s health system as it rolls out the largest and most rapid vaccination programme in its history.
“This is critical to ensuring that the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines does not overstretch existing capacities and disrupt essential,routine childhood immunization services while also strengthening existing health systems so that Malawi continues to benefit from an improved cold chain system beyond the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Japanese Ambassador to Malawi Satoshi Iwakiri.
“This trilateral cooperation can promote COVID-19 recovery by building the capacity of the health system in Malawi. The grant, which comes from Japanese citizens, will facilitate the vaccination programme to safeguard the health of the people of Malawi,” Iwakiri added.
As the largest single vaccine buyer in the world, UNICEF is the lead procurement and supply agency for COVAX. In Malawi, UNICEF has been supporting the Ministry of Health in strengthening its national immunization programme, which benefits millions of children every year.
UNICEF Malawi Representative Rudolf Schwenk said:“Procuring vaccines is only half the job. Without proper storage and transport systems, it is impossible to take vaccines to the people and communities who need them. This support from the Government of Japan will help safely deliver COVID-19 vaccines across the country and ensure continuity of routine immunization services for children beyond COVID-19.”
UNICEF and Japan have been working together in support of malawi’s health system. In 2017, the Japanese Government supported UNICEF interventions which trained over 1,000 health surveillance assistants to identify signs of violence and abuse and refer concerned children to appropriate protection services. This has contributed to strengthening the child protection system in Malawi. Japan also supported UNICEF’s immediate response in the aftermath of the 2019 floods by providing child protection services and sanitary kits to adolescent girls.
