Unicef, WHO to donate typhoon-resistant vaccination equipment

The United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization are set to donate typhoon-and earthquake-resistant vaccines and immunization equipment in an effort to ensure the cold chain storage management of vaccines in Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)-affected areas. The WHO, UNICEF, and the Department of Health (DOH) plan to establish the cold chain storage system first in Tacloban City, one of areas hit hardest by Yolanda, and then expand the program across typhoon devastated communities. Equipment used to maintain the cold chain, a temperature-controlled system essential to retain the protective ability of vaccines and immunizing agents, will be donated to 450 DOH health care facilities. These include 5,000 temperature-monitoring devices, 4,000 vaccine carriers, 800 cold boxes, 400 back-up generator systems,150 ice-lined refrigerators, 50 solar-powered refrigerators and 200 Sure Chill freezers, which allows the facilities to operate for more than ten days without electricity. Also 16 walk-in cold rooms for vaccine storage will be constructed at...