Managua, October 27th, 2022 (PAHO/WHO)—The inauguration of a new vaccine’s storage center marks a new chapter in the process of upgrading health services in Nicaragua and decentralizing the immunization process.
This vaccines bank is fitted with advanced technology and cold chain equipment that will ensure the conservation of up to one million doses of biologics.
The project has an approximate investment cost of U$380,000 and was supported by the governments of Canada and Japan, the GAVI Alliance, PAHO, and UNICEF.
The inaugural ceremony was opened in the presence of the Secretary General of Health of Nicaragua, Carlos Saenz, the Ambassador of Japan, Nakamura Kazuhito, a representative of the Canadian Embassy, Carola Espinoza, the Representative of UNICEF, Antero Almeida, and the Representative of PAHO/WHO, Ana Treasure.
Treasure emphasized that the center of the "Local Systems of Integrated Health Care (SILAIS, for its acronym in Spanish) in Managua supplies vaccines to 30% of the country’s population, and this bank of biologics will assist in the immunization decentralization process.”
UNICEF’s representative, Almeida, expressed that "the biologics bank is a significant work, not only because of its technical characteristics but also due to the visibility of what can be achieved through joining wills and solidarity."
Japanese Ambassador Nakamura Kazuhito said he was "honored that the new biologics bank has been created with the collaboration of Canada, PAHO, UNICEF, and the GAVI Alliance, and will help to eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases”.
Secretary General of Health, Saenz, defined it as an "act of love to have a biologics bank that will guarantee the preservation of vaccines for children, pregnant women, and the population in general, to protect them against various diseases." He also thanked the continuous, fraternal, and committed support of the countries participating in the development of this project, as well as the technical and financial assistance of GAVI, PAHO, UNICEF, Canada, and Japan.
Nicaragua will host and international training on Effective Vaccine Management from November 21st to 25th, with participants from 10 countries.
