Abdel Ghaffar Attends Handover Ceremony of Medical Supplies from Japan

On Thursday, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, the Minister of Health and Population, attended a handover ceremony of modern refrigerated vaccine transport vehicles (RVTV) provided by the government of Japan in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). 

The ceremony took place at the Princess Fatima Academy for Vocational Medical Education in Abbasiya in the presence of the Japanese Ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Oka Hiroshi, and Mr. Jeremy Hopkins, the representative of UNICEF in Egypt.

The RVTV project is part of the 'Enhancing Immunization Supply Chain in Egypt' initiative. The five four-wheel drive vehicles will transport vaccinations and serums across the country, especially to remote areas where there are no paved roads.

In a statement, Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, explained that the RVTVs are equipped with a refrigerator manufactured by B Medical Company.

"This refrigerator can maintain a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius below zero in hot climates. It has a storage capacity of 396 liters and is fitted with shelves for easy placement of vaccines. The refrigerator can operate for up to 16 hours, powered by a separate battery, the car battery, or an electric cable while the vehicle is stationary. The RVTVs are also equipped with a screen to monitor the temperature and two fuel tanks for transporting the vaccines safely," said Abdel Ghaffar.

H.E. Oka praised the role of the Egyptian government in protecting its people from Covid-19. He emphasized that the RVTVs, which are Toyota Land Cruisers from Japan, will enable the safe delivery of various COVID-19 vaccines throughout Egypt. 

He also mentioned that providing this support is in line with Japan's commitment to Egypt as a strategic partner.

In turn, Mr. Hopkins highlighted the importance of vaccines in protecting society from vaccine-preventable diseases. 

He emphasized that the RVTVs will facilitate access to safe and effective vaccines for all beneficiaries, regardless of their place of residence. He also stressed UNICEF's unwavering commitment to supporting the health sector in Egypt, particularly for children.