Communities in Guyana with intermittent or no power supply are set to benefit from improved vaccine storage, thanks to a generous donation from UNICEF Guyana, with funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The donation comprises 13 solar-powered refrigerators, offering a significant enhancement to the Ministry of Health’s capacity for vaccine storage.
The solar refrigerators, each providing 120 litres of storage capacity, are not only designed for safe vaccine storage but also operate in an environmentally friendly manner.
This feature makes them suitable for deployment in areas with limited or intermittent power supplies.
During a simple handover ceremony, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony expressed the ministry’s commitment to distributing these refrigerators to several remote communities.
The aim is to benefit the most vulnerable children and families by ensuring proper vaccine storage even in the most challenging conditions.
Minister Anthony highlighted the strategic approach taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, explaining that regional hubs were established to facilitate the distribution of vaccines to various regions.
The next step, he emphasized, is to extend the reach into various communities, making these solar refrigerators invaluable for decentralized vaccine storage.
UNICEF, in collaboration with USAID, has been at the forefront of this initiative, with Irfan Akhtar, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Guyana and Suriname, expressing gratitude to USAID for its funding and commitment to ensuring proper vaccination storage in Guyana.
Akhtar emphasized the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of immunization as a public health measure.
He acknowledged USAID’s continuous support to UNICEF, emphasizing the goal of making vaccines accessible to every child.
UNICEF reiterated its commitment to supporting Guyana in meeting the goals of the Immunisation Agenda 2030.
The agenda envisions a world where everyone, at every age and everywhere, fully benefits from vaccines for good health and well-being.
This donation marks a significant stride toward strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Guyana, ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to vital vaccines.