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To boost vaccination: Japan donates refrigerated truck to health ministry.

The government of Japan, has through its embassy in Cameroon, handed a refrigerated truck to the Ministry of Public Health. The truck will ease in the transportation of vaccines

The van was handed to the Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, by the Japanese Ambassador to Cameroon, His Excellency, Takaoka Nozomu. The goal, the Ambassador said, is to boost the works of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, EPI, in communities.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Country Representative of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, Nadine Perrault and the Permanent Secretary of EPI, Dr Tchokfe Shalom Ndoula.

The mobile equipment was acquired, thanks to technical support from UNICEF and financial support of the government of Japan.

According to the Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, the donation will improve vaccine conservation as well as secure the national distribution circuit.

The member of government saluted the government of Japan for supporting Cameroon’s immunisation drive. He also thanked UNICEF for its technical support in the operation.

Through such multiform support, the minister said Japan and UNICEF are invariably contributing to the realisation of President Paul Paul Biya’s target to ensure everyone is inoculated in the face of diseases.

UNICEF's Country Representative, Nadine Perrault, on her part congratulated the government of Cameroon for what she said is its commitment to vaccinate children, regardless of where they live.

“I hope that this truck will enable Cameroon to go the extra mile in boosting immunisation and thus reducing mortality among women and children,” she stated.

The three-seater Toyota Mono refrigerated truck is equipped with a thermally insulated 20m3 load compartment. It is also equipped with a mechanical refrigeration system for the safe road transport of vaccines, in a temperature range of +2 to +8 degrees Celsius.

The vehicle according to health experts can transport vaccines at a stable temperature, and can be set to either frozen or refrigerated. It is said to have the right temperature and required equipment that permits it to deliver vaccines to any part of the country.

The truck also has two sensors for remote monitoring of vaccine storage and temperature during transportation. The sensors also help to reduce transit times and guarantee vaccine quality.