Provision of Cold Chain Equipment from the Government of Japan to Ministry of Health through JICA’s Technical Cooperation Project “Providing Storage Capacity for COVID-19 Vaccine in Malaysia”
2021/11/15
On November 15, Ambassador Oka attended the hand-over ceremony of the provision of cold chain equipment for vaccines from the Government of Japan to the Ministry of Health through Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA)'s technical cooperation project "Providing Storage Capacity for COVID-19 Vaccine in Malaysia".
The provision of the equipment is part of the Japanese government's "Last One Mile Support" program to deliver vaccines to the local vaccination site. The cold chain equipment for vaccines provided by the Japanese government is worth approximately RM 6 million and consists of the following:
- 184 Vaccine Refrigerators / Freezers
- 1,163 Cold Box with Ice pack (8.0L)
- 180 Cold Box with Ice pack (1.67L)
- 1,579 Data Logger
These cold chain equipment for vaccines will be used to strengthen the COVID-19 vaccine storage system in public hospitals throughout Malaysia as part of the COVID-19 National Immunization Program.
The JICA technical cooperation project, "Providing Storage Capacity for COVID-19 Vaccine in Malaysia", is a project to strengthen Malaysia's response capacity to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the provision of cold chain equipment and the sharing of Japanese medical knowledge through seminars on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the response at public health centers in Japan and the management and maintenance of medical equipment, the project will also provide whole genome sequencing machinery in public health laboratories for the analysis of Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The ceremony was attended by Y.B. Tuan Khairy Jamaluddin bin Abu Bakar, the Minister of Health and Mr. Fukazawa, the Senior Representative of JICA Malaysia Office.
Ambassador Oka's message to Malaysia on the occasion of this handover ceremony is as follows;
The provision of the equipment is part of the Japanese government's "Last One Mile Support" program to deliver vaccines to the local vaccination site. The cold chain equipment for vaccines provided by the Japanese government is worth approximately RM 6 million and consists of the following:
- 184 Vaccine Refrigerators / Freezers
- 1,163 Cold Box with Ice pack (8.0L)
- 180 Cold Box with Ice pack (1.67L)
- 1,579 Data Logger
These cold chain equipment for vaccines will be used to strengthen the COVID-19 vaccine storage system in public hospitals throughout Malaysia as part of the COVID-19 National Immunization Program.
The JICA technical cooperation project, "Providing Storage Capacity for COVID-19 Vaccine in Malaysia", is a project to strengthen Malaysia's response capacity to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the provision of cold chain equipment and the sharing of Japanese medical knowledge through seminars on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the response at public health centers in Japan and the management and maintenance of medical equipment, the project will also provide whole genome sequencing machinery in public health laboratories for the analysis of Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The ceremony was attended by Y.B. Tuan Khairy Jamaluddin bin Abu Bakar, the Minister of Health and Mr. Fukazawa, the Senior Representative of JICA Malaysia Office.
Ambassador Oka's message to Malaysia on the occasion of this handover ceremony is as follows;
- It is a great honour and pleasure for me to be part of the handover ceremony of cold chain equipment (CCE) for vaccine storage from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to hospitals throughout Malaysia. We sincerely hope that this equipment, worth approximately RM6 million, will promote to further boost vaccinations in Malaysia and aid the country in this fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and future outbreaks of public health concern. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Minister of Health, YB Tuan Khairy Jamaluddin and others who have contributed to made this cooperation possible.
- On behalf of the Japanese community in Malaysia, I would also like to express my profound appreciation and deep respect to the Government of Malaysia and especially to the front-liners for their dedicated efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme that included vaccination for foreigners and thereby keep us safe in Malaysia. This provision is the latest symbol of the longstanding friendship and solidarity between Japan and Malaysia.
- The Government of Japan has been providing assistance to countries globally through various channels to cope with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 since the world started to struggle with the pandemic last year.
- One of Japan’s major contributions to the fight against the COVID-19 is the COVAX AMC Summit in June, co-hosted by Japan and GAVI to accelerate equitable access to safe, effective and quality-assured vaccines. At the summit, Japan pledged an additional contribution of USD800 million, which brings the total contribution of USD1 billion to the COVAX Facility.
- Japan has also promoted the provision of vaccines to countries in Southeast Asia and other countries, including approximately 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Malaysia. As of the end of October, Japan has provided the third largest amount of vaccines in the world.
- In addition to providing vaccines to countries in ASEAN and other regions, Japan has also been actively providing "last mile support" to deliver vaccines to the vaccination site after they reach the country. The provision of cold chain equipment this time is the realization of this "last mile support" in Malaysia.
- Please be assured that Japan will continue to play an active role to ensure that the world overcomes the pandemic and that no one is left behind in the road to recovery.
- This provision of cold chain equipment is based on the solid bond between Japan and Malaysia. Next year coincides with the 65th anniversary of Japan-Malaysia diplomatic relations as well as the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy. In conclusion, I hope that the cold chain equipment will assist in Malaysia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen cooperation and friendship between both our countries.