Samoa’s Ministry of Health received three vehicles to boost COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the country thanks to the Government of Japan and United Nations Children's Fund.

A handover ceremony was held on Friday at the Ministry of Health grounds with the Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, UNICEF Pacific’s Chief of Samoa Field Office, Dr. Annefrida Kisesa and the Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission for the Embassy of Japan, Kazuo Tsukada in attendance. 

And part of the donation included motor vehicle accessories for the trucks that were handed over. 

Leausa, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Health who could not attend, said the vehicles and accessories will boost their Ministry’s efforts in striving to achieve its vaccination targets to ensure total population coverage.

The vehicles and accessories are expected to support the Government's efforts to vaccinate all the eligible population through strengthening the cold chain management system. 

They will help deliver life-saving vaccines to health facilities and communities in the country, providing a significant improvement to the health system.

While Samoa has not had any community transmission, the global pandemic still presents a serious risk to the country, with the limited resources available to fight the deadly disease.

Dr. Kisesa acknowledged the Government of Japan’s partnership in providing essential support to boost Samoa’s COVID-19 vaccination roll-out.

“We also congratulate the Government of Samoa in its successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which has led to over 80 per cent of the eligible population now fully vaccinated,” said the UNICEF Pacific’s Chief of Samoa Field Office.

She also said they will continue to work with the Government of Samoa to ensure that vaccination rates increase rapidly in order to protect the population against possible outbreaks, especially with the emergence of new COVID-19 variants.

“UNICEF is honoured to be a partner with the government of Samoa, in all development matters that improve the livelihood of children, and contribute to achievement of the sustainable development goals.

“Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, the past two years have been challenging, both emotionally, and thought provoking, as the world  deliberated, planned, contribute ideas, and undertook activities either to  prevent this COVID pandemic reaching their countries, or mitigate its impacts.

“There has been impact on tourism, an impact on economy which in turn has impacted on incomes of households and families.”

Dr. Kisesa also said UNICEF remains concerned at how this impacts the 90,000 children residing in the country, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

“We believe that the use of these vehicles will contribute to the efforts of scale up Samoa’s response actions, towards COVID-19, including distribution of vaccines and other supplies, keep the residents of Samoa protected from COVID-19, as well as integrating COVID-19 interventions with other initiatives that improve health and wellbeing of people of Samoa.”

Mr. Kazuo said Japan is a committed partner who has been focusing on strengthening health care systems in developing countries under the principle of ensuring human security for many years, and promoting infection control measures and lead initiatives toward achieving universal health coverage that “leaves no one behind” at various international summits.

“As part of the international concerted efforts, we are keen to play a part to assist the efforts of the Government of Samoa through our partnership with UNICEF in providing transportation as ‘last one mile-support’ to ensure vaccination for all Samoans,” said Mr. Kazuo in a joint UNICEF and Japan media release.

UNICEF and the Government of Japan have been working closely with the Government of Samoa and other Pacific Island countries to help prevent the introduction and spread of the virus among communities. This includes supporting the vital procurement of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility as well as providing technical and financial resources for the roll out of vaccination in the country.

This funding is part of the broader Japanese Emergency Grant Aid of approximately USD 41 million to 25 countries in Southeast and Southwest Asia and the Pacific (approximately US$9 million to 10 Pacific Island Countries).

The 25 countries include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.