December 15, 2021
BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
As the fourth wave of covid-19 looms around the country, the American Ambassador David Reimer has on the 14th of December 2021, handed over seventy-seven sets of solar refrigerators worth seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750).
He handed the equipment to the Minister of Health and Sanitation at the UNICEF headquarters for safe and efficacious storage of covid-19 vaccines across the country.
In his handing over statement at the UNICEF Conference Hall, the United States Ambassador David Reimer said the United States Government has so far supported the Government of Sierra Leone with over sixteen million dollars in response and prevention of the covid-19 pandemic.
He added that they have also partnered with other International Organizations to support the country’s national Covid-19 response plan coupled with risk communication, community engagement, infection prevention and control, lab strengthening, case management, and procurement of equipment and supply of covid-19 related items.
David Reimer assured that the United States government will continue to provide substantial in-kind support in the form of donation particularly with seven hundred thousand doses of Johnson and Johnson Vaccines and the Pfizar vaccines to Sierra Leone.
In Partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the United States Ambassador said they celebrated the arrival of critical cold chain equipment which serves to support the Government of Sierra Leone to rollout life-saving covid-19 vaccines.
“This seventy-seven sets of solar refrigerators with support from the USAID, will improve the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to store covid-19 vaccines in order to vaccinate more people more efficiently across the country”, said David Reimer.
He stressed that the arrival of the cold chain equipment is very important especially when the new variant of the covid-19 has been recorded in the country. He assured that the solar refrigerators are specifically designed to help smaller healthcare facilities.
Ambassador Reimer also noted that the equipment will also enable healthcare officials to store critical vaccines for children.
He concluded by commending the Government of Sierra Leone for the execellent job in addressing the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic.
The Deputy UNICEF Representative Ms. Liv Elin Indreiten confessed that the generous donation made by USAID was very timely and was a highly appreciated step in order to expand cold chain capacity across the country.
She intimated that the seventy-seven sets of the solar refrigerators will be distributed to nine (9) districts where cold chain capacity gaps are huge adding that, the availability of the cold chain equipment will not only increase coverage but also improve quality.
The Deputy UNICEF Representative also assured the Ministry of Health and Sanitation that UNICEF will ensure the transportation and installation of the equipment to healthcare facilities, and also provide training of technicians and users on preventive maintenance and management of the equipment.
She urged the Government to put the necessary measures in place in ensuring that the equipment is used judiciously for the purpose they are meant for.
She also advised the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to provide routine preventive maintenance as required.
In receipt of the seventy-seven solar refrigerators, the Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Demby expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the people and government of America for such donation.
He also acknowledged UNICEF as a strong facilitator in helping out with logistics to bring the equipment into the country.
Dr. Austin Demby assured that with the Vaccination Team they have on the ground led by Dr. Sesay, they have been able to do very well and will do more in eradicating the pandemic.
He added that the solar refrigerators will consolidate the gains made in the nationwide vaccination and therefore, assured that the equipment will be used for their intended purposes.