Lidia and Clodomira polyclinic, based in Havana’s Regla municipality, received barnd-new refrigerators and coolers with thermo-regulators pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) to guarantee vaccine to be well preserved.

During the donation ceremony, the Japanese ambassador to Cuba Kenji Hirata expressed his satisfaction with his country´s donation to Cuba through UNICEF to fight the pandemic.

Hirata congratulated Cuban government, people and scientists for their achievements ahead of the health crisis and also stressed this donation will also have a long-term impact on future vaccination campaigns and scientific-epidemiological research.

UNICEF representative in Cuba Alejandra Trossero, on the other hand, praised this project will benefit over six million people, including 1.2 million children.

It is a satisfaction to be present at a polyclinic and see first hand how children are being vaccinated, and to appreciate Cuba´s good primary health system functioning, said Trossero.

Ana Teresita González, First Deputy Foreign Trade and Investment Minister, and Carilda Peña, Deputy Hygiene and Epidemiology Minister at the Public Health Ministry (MINSAP), expressed their gratitude for the donation.

Peña and González stressed that more than 90% of the Cuban population is fully vaccinated, and children are immunized against 13 diseases, eight of these vaccines are produced in the country’s scientific centers.

Japan and UNICEF’s collaboration agreement with Cuba signed back in November 2021 is 70% complete and is due to conclude in April 2024.

Funds are used to purchase refrigerators, coolers, syringes, ambulances, high-performance ultrasound equipment and supplies for oxygen treatment, among other resources.

Pll/rgh/lpn