Luanda – At least 490 equipment for storing vaccines were delivered, this Saturday, to the Ministry of Health (MINSA), to reduce the need for expansion and rehabilitation of the refrigeration and storage systems health units.
The donation from the China Merchants Foundation includes 150 solar coolers and their respective solar panels, 40 electric ones and 300 isothermal boxes.
According to Health minister, Sílvia Lutucuta, this donation, valued at 1 million dollars, will make it possible to equip and strengthen 190 health units across the country.
Sílvia Lutucuta added that the cooling and refrigeration system is one of the important pillars for any vaccination programme, as it guarantees the supply of safe vaccines.
“This material will make it possible to preserve not only the vaccines against Covid-19, but also those of the children's vaccination programme and guarantee health through immunization,” said the minister.
She also informed that the 150 coolers with solar panels and the capacity to store three thousand doses of vaccine each one, will allow covering areas of difficult access and without electricity from the public network.
Regarding Covid-19, the minister said that Angola is negotiating with the Chinese government to acquire more vaccines from Sinopharm.
The cabinet official took the opportunity to alert the population that transcripts of vaccines against Covid-19 are not authorized on the International vaccine Card, noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) is organizing and will define the methodology and type of vaccines cards to use.
On his turn, the Chinese ambassador to Angola, Gong Tao, expressed the willingness of his government, Chinese companies and organizations to continue to support Angola's efforts in the health, economic and commercial sectors and, in particular, in fighting Covid-19.
