USAID Supports Ministry of Health to Expand COVID-19 Vaccination in Laos

The USA, via the US Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID), has handed over chilly chain and IT tools price round USD 150,000 to the Ministry of Well being (MOH) to additional broaden COVID-19 vaccination protection in Laos, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.

The handover of the tools, which was procured with the assist of UNICEF, was held on the workplace of the Nationwide Immunization Programme within the presence of Dr. Phonepaseuth Ounaphom, Director Common of Division of Hygiene and Well being Promotion, Ministry of Well being, Mr. Cullen Hughes, appearing USAID Nation Consultant to Lao PDR, and Ms. Rie Takesue, OIC Chief of Well being, UNICEF Lao PDR.

Throughout the occasion, Dr. Phonepaseuth Ounaphom thanked USAID and the U.S. Authorities for the help and expressed his appreciation to UNICEF for his or her assist on vaccination throughout the pandemic.

“Via the sustained help from our worldwide companions, Laos has achieved vital vaccination protection. USAID’s assist is one other necessary contribution to our work, guaranteeing that vaccines are delivered to each little one, mom, and household, thus paving the trail in the direction of vaccinating the nation in opposition to COVID-19,” acknowledged Dr. Phonepaseuth Ounaphom.

The chilly chain tools included 135 chilly containers to assist with transporting vaccines from one chilly storage location to a different or to well being services and a couple of,000 freeze-free vaccine carriers to assist well being staff ship vaccines to immunization websites.

Moreover, the chilly containers can be used as backup storage for vaccines throughout emergencies. As well as, USAID supplied IT tools, together with 245 tablets, alongside 21 pc and printer units to assist strengthen knowledge administration and assortment, supervision at immunization websites, and allow entry to e-learning alternatives for well being staff.

“The tools supplied right now will additional assist the Ministry of Well being in strengthening chilly chain logistics and the administration data programs that underpin the whole nationwide vaccination marketing campaign,” acknowledged Mr. Hughes. He complimented the Authorities of Laos and MOH for his or her efficient COVID-19 response and highlighted the significance of partnerships in responding to the pandemic.

“We’ve got seen the facility of partnerships throughout the pandemic in maintaining folks secure. The U.S. Authorities is proud to have performed a key half in addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on the lives of Lao folks,” he added.

The handover is a part of the latest COVID-19 help to Lao PDR from USAID via UNICEF. This features a latest USD 1.4 million grant to UNICEF supporting the Authorities of Laos in monitoring chilly chain services, neighborhood engagement and monitoring adversarial occasions following vaccination.

Moreover, USAID beforehand supplied a grant of USD 2 million to UNICEF and WHO for the operationalization of chilly chain regional hubs in Luang Prabang, Saravanh, Savannakhet, Oudomxay, Champasak and Vientiane.

Thus far, a complete of 588 models of chilly chain tools have been delivered and put in in these provinces with the assist of USAID, that are serving to vaccinate the whole nation.

“UNICEF thanks USAID for this beneficiant contribution to the vaccination drive in Lao PDR.  Vaccines have been an necessary issue within the present decline of extreme instances and deaths from COVID-19 that we now see right now, and the tools supplied will make sure that vaccines can attain much more folks, particularly these most weak,” remarked Ms. Takesue.