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The Ministry of Health has received nine refrigerated trucks procured by UNICEF with funding from the Government of Japan to further improve the distribution system for providing vaccines to all children in Sri Lanka.
At a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health, the truck was handed over to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health by Mr. Hideaki Mizugoshi, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, and Ms. Begoña Arellano, Acting Representative of UNICEF in Sri Lanka, and received by the Minister of Health, Dr. Ramesh Patilana.
“I welcome the support of the Government of Japan and UNICEF to further strengthen immunization, a critical pillar of Sri Lanka’s healthcare system,” said Dr. Patilana at the handover ceremony. “These refrigerated trucks will enhance the Ministry of Health’s capacity to transport vaccines safely and in a timely manner.”
The trucks are part of a total $3 million contribution from the Japanese government to fund cold chain equipment, including large walk-in cold rooms for storing vaccines at safe temperatures, portable vaccine transport vehicles and temperature monitors, which have been handed over to the Ministry of Health on and off since 2021.
In his remarks, Ambassador Mizukoshi said: “I am honored to announce the upcoming delivery of nine refrigerated trucks, a powerful symbol of Japan’s enduring commitment to public health in Sri Lanka. These trucks will serve as an important conduit for the seamless transportation of vaccines across the country, ensuring that every community has the necessary protection against disease.”
The trucks will help transport the vaccine from the central warehouse to regional warehouses and then to health facilities. Vaccine transporters and cold storage containers have been procured and distributed to health officials’ offices and hospitals.
“Vaccinations protect children from many preventable diseases and enable them to live healthy lives. Vaccines are temperature sensitive and need to be transported in the right conditions. These trucks will help us get the right vaccines to every child at the right time in every corner of Sri Lanka. UNICEF values the Government of Japan’s long-term support and partnership with the Ministry of Health in improving the health of all children in the country,” added Ms. Begoña Arellano, Acting UNICEF Representative in Sri Lanka.
Over the years, the Government of Japan has made significant contributions to support UNICEF and the Ministry of Health of Japan in their joint efforts to address both the long-term and short-term health needs of children.
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