IPNEWS-Monrovia: The Government of Japan, Government of Liberia and UNICEF, in a joint press release posted on 27 July 2022, revealed that over 165,000 people, including some 70,000 children from 0-12 years, benefited from Japan’s support to the Government of Liberia to strengthen the delivery of routine health services and the management of COVID-19 pandemic in partnership with UNICEF

The release also stated that the programme strengthened the cold chain system in the country through equipping 170 health facilities with COVID-19 vaccination requirements, such as solar refrigerators, cold boxes, and vaccines carriers to serve over 500,000 people in the 15 counties of Liberia.

In 2021, together with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, the Government of Japan launched two programmes to support the government in strengthening delivery of routine health services in health facilities and communities during COVID-19 and improving cold chain management with a total funding of US$2.5 Million.

“Japan has always been with the people of Liberia, and we will continue to provide the needed support to fight the COVID pandemic,” said Ambassador Mochizuki Hisanobu, Japanese ambassador to Ghana and Liberia respectively. “This is a closing ceremony, but I hope this will not end the partnership to keep the people of Liberia safe from the pandemic.”

All they are in our efforts to provide support in developing Liberia’s Health facilities and to ensure infants enjoy public health services and that each and every other person is not left out. ”

The release also report that, the supplies produced under the strengthening delivery of routine health services programme included essential medicines, oxygen therapeutic, and ready to use therapeutic food which reached over 167,000 beneficiaries through the 19 facilities across the casement areas.

Of the 167,487 beneficiaries, including 52,774 girls and boys under 5 years of age 13,960 pregnant women, and birth registration for 6,919 girls and boys.

“This particular project has provided the surest ways and awareness for our children to be brought to the health facilities to be vaccinated and our pregnant women can attend antenatal care and I thank UNICEF and the government of Japan for their partnership in strengthening routine services,” said Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, Minister of Health in Liberia. ”This has also brought a lot of institutional building capacities to our health workers that working in these” she recounted.

The cold chain improvement programme strengthened the government’s capacity to manage COVID -19 pandemic in the context of achieving universal Health coverage in the country. This included the procurement of cold chain equipment and building institutional capacities to manage the equipment for smooth introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, on line with Japan’s “Last One Mile Support” for delivering vaccines to the final destination.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on families and children all over the world, including in Liberia, UNICEF has scaled up its support to governments to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are delivered effectively and available to the most vulnerable populations,” Said Laila O. Gad, UNICEF representative in Liberia.

She further noted that the support received from the Government of Japan was a critical contribution to our cooperation with the Government of Liberia in responding to COVID-19 and strengthening the delivery of essential health services during the pandemic.

UNICEF, however expressed thanks to the Government of Japan for its contribution to UNICEF’s efforts to support the children in Liberia and continue its work with the government to ensure health system in the country are well equipped, and health workers are technically trained to respond appropriately to the threats of COVID-19.