Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 25 June 2012 at 10 a.m. - The official handover of cold chain equipment for vaccines from Japan to Kyrgyzstan will take place in the Ministry of Health’s Republican Immunisation Centre of specialised cold chain equipment. This transfer is being made in the framework of the “Vaccine independence in the Kyrgyz Republic” project of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and UNICEF.

The handover ceremony will be attended by Marat Kaliev, Deputy Minister of Health; Takayuki Oyama, JICA Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic; Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF Representative; and Joldosh Kalipov, Head of the Republican Immunisation Centre.

The items transferred will include voltage stabilisers, thermal containers, four electric generators, two vehicles for vaccine transportation, and other equipment. The total value is about $500,000. The equipment is all intended for the southern regions of the country, which are most acutely in need of cold chain renewal.

Mr. Kalilov, Head of the Immunisation Centre points out: “Thanks to this support, the cold chain now covers 96 per cent of all the vaccination points as it was planned in the National Strategy Programme “Den Sooluk”.

This is not the first technical assistance by the Government of Japan in the framework of this project. During 1995-2004, assistance had a positive effect on the timely provision of vaccines to young children, increased vaccination coverage, and ensured observance of norms for storage and transportation of vaccines. In 2001-2004, 182 refrigerators arrived in the Kyrgyz Republic with sets of spare parts, along with two refrigerated lorries and 150 cold bags with cold elements for storage and transportation of vaccines. In 2008, another 120 refrigerators were delivered, in addition to three cold rooms, two diesel generators and more than 1000 heat indicators.

United Nations Children’s Fund
UN Common Premises
In the Kyrgyz Republic
160, prospect Chui, 720040, Bishkek
Kyrgyz Republic
Telephone 996 312 611224…7
Facsimile 996 312 611191
www.unicef.org/kyrgyzstan