The government of Japan in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has presented 30 ultra-low freezers to the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Services (GHS) for the storage of vaccines.

THE ultra-low freezers are designed to preserve coronavirus COVID-19 and other vaccines of other illness.

The 30 ultra-low freezers would benefit 12 regional health directorate, five teaching hospitals, 10 regional hospitals, two quasi-government hospitals and one private hospital.

Speaking at the presentation, the UNICEF representative in Ghana, Ms Anne-Claire Dufay, commended the government of Ghana for its unrelenting efforts to ensure that at least 20 million persons are fully vaccinated against the novel pandemic.

“As more people in Ghana are vaccinated, there is greater opportunity for everyday live to return to normal, for children to learn and play more easily and for health systems to no longer be overwhelmed,” she added.

The Japanese Ambassador, Mr Tsutomu Himeno expressed his delight on behalf of the people and government of Japan for the presentation of the ultra-low temperature freezers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The reason why these freezers have been donated to the government and people of Ghana is for health reasons, it is important we prevent the citizens from contracting the virus any further and we have to prevent this at all cost,” he said.

He further mentioned another reason this presentation was made possible was because of the strong bond that exist between the people of Ghana and the people of Japan.

The Chief Director of Ministry of Health, MrKwabenaBoadu Oku-Afari, noted that, the ministry recently launched the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Roadmap which defines all people in Ghana having timely access to high quality services, irrespective of the ability to pay at the point of use.

He further mentioned that “We see the presentation of these ultra-low temperature freezers as critical in ensuring access to COVID-19 vaccines to Ghanaians and indeed, all people in Ghana.”

MrOku-Afari noted that, this presentation will ultimately contribute immensely to the achievement of the UHC.

DrPatrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director General of Ghana Health Service, , thanked the government of Japan and UNICEF for the support and assured them, the freezers will be used for its intended purpose in order to have lives bounce back to normalcy.

BY PHILOMINA OPPONG & BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEH