Japan has provided US$2.5 million to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support The Gambian Government’s efforts against COVID-19.
This funding will be used to support Infection and Prevention Control measures to ensure continuation of critical lifesaving services, procure cold chain equipment and related supplies.
It will also help upgrade and strengthen regional and sub-regional cold stores and provide capacity building assistance to promote COVID-19 vaccination in the country, a statement made available on Tuesday said.
It said that the funds will complement national efforts to reach the 70% vaccination target among eligible adults in a timely and effective manner.
Also, the grant will support health system strengthening through the provision of cold chain equipment which will benefit 1.5 million people, the statement added.
The cold chain equipment and supplies that will be procured include solar-powered walk-in cold rooms, mobile vaccination vehicles, solar-powered refrigerators and motorcycles for health workers.
Health-care workers from 76 health facilities will be trained in preventive maintenance and 24 technicians will be trained to repair equipment, the statement pointed out.
According to the statement 20 national facilitators and 1,000 community health workers/village health workers will be trained to support the administration and monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines.
The grant will also help to extend the reach to villages without primary health care centres and thereby improve coverage of immunization services.
“This project will fully support UNICEF’s COVID-19 response efforts in The Gambia and will promote friendship between Japan and The Gambia,” said Mr. Daisuke Nakajima, Charge d’affaires of the Embassy of Japan to The Gambia.
UNICEF Gambia Representative, Mr. Gordon Jonathan Lewis said: “We share one goal: to protect and provide the necessary information, materials and tools to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia.”