Handover Ceremony of the "Emergency Grant Aid in Improving Cold Chain in Pacific Island Countries" through UNICEF
2022/7/7
On July 1, 2022, the Handover Ceremony for the “Emergency Grant Aid in Improving Cold Chain in Pacific Island Countries” was held at the warehouse of the Department of Health and Social Affairs of the Federated States of Micronesia in Pohnpei.
Under this cooperation, cold chain equipment including medical equipment such as cold-storage facilities and transportation will be provided through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as "Last One Mile Support" to establish a domestic vaccination system for Pacific island countries, including the FSM, to help deliver vaccines to every corner of the countries. This cooperation is being implemented with support from Japan, and this time four boats and five vehicles have been provided to the FSM government. Japanese Ambassador Michigami Hisashi handed over these units of equipment to the Hon. Marcus Samo, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Affairs.
In his remarks, Ambassador Michigami stated that he was honored to be able to provide the people in the FSM with the vehicles and boats that are essential to deliver vaccines to the four states. He also noted that the fight against the COVID-19 will continue, and that Japan will continue to provide assistance such as this in cooperation with international organizations for the health of the people in the FSM.
On behalf of the FSM government, The Hon. Marcus Samo, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Affairs expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government and people. He stated that this assistance will help protect many citizens from COVID-19 infection and expressed his hope that the bond between the people of Japan and the people of the Federated States of Micronesia will continue.
The ceremony was attended by the Hon. Marcus Samo, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Affairs, Mr. Carter Apaisam, Immunization Program Manager of the Department of Health and Social Affairs, Mr. Jeffrey Ing, Specialist of the UNICEF North Pacific Specialist, other officials, as well as members of the Embassy of Japan in the FSM.
At the warehouse, we observed that many refrigerators (with strict temperature control) were used to store the vaccine for COVID-19. Mr. Carter Apaisam expressed his gratitude that the refrigerators and generators were also provided by Japan.
Under this cooperation, cold chain equipment including medical equipment such as cold-storage facilities and transportation will be provided through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as "Last One Mile Support" to establish a domestic vaccination system for Pacific island countries, including the FSM, to help deliver vaccines to every corner of the countries. This cooperation is being implemented with support from Japan, and this time four boats and five vehicles have been provided to the FSM government. Japanese Ambassador Michigami Hisashi handed over these units of equipment to the Hon. Marcus Samo, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Affairs.
In his remarks, Ambassador Michigami stated that he was honored to be able to provide the people in the FSM with the vehicles and boats that are essential to deliver vaccines to the four states. He also noted that the fight against the COVID-19 will continue, and that Japan will continue to provide assistance such as this in cooperation with international organizations for the health of the people in the FSM.
On behalf of the FSM government, The Hon. Marcus Samo, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Affairs expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government and people. He stated that this assistance will help protect many citizens from COVID-19 infection and expressed his hope that the bond between the people of Japan and the people of the Federated States of Micronesia will continue.
The ceremony was attended by the Hon. Marcus Samo, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Affairs, Mr. Carter Apaisam, Immunization Program Manager of the Department of Health and Social Affairs, Mr. Jeffrey Ing, Specialist of the UNICEF North Pacific Specialist, other officials, as well as members of the Embassy of Japan in the FSM.
At the warehouse, we observed that many refrigerators (with strict temperature control) were used to store the vaccine for COVID-19. Mr. Carter Apaisam expressed his gratitude that the refrigerators and generators were also provided by Japan.
Speech by Secretary Samo
Speech by Ambassador Michigami
Main participants posing with donated boats
Donated vehicles