UNICEF Moldova, with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), purchased 284 refrigerators for storing vaccines, which were distributed to all health centers in Moldova, with PHCF Strășeni being one of the recipients of a freezer refrigerator for storing vaccines, IPN reports.

It goes primarily to vaccines that require more specific conditions for their handling, ultra-low temperatures of minus 60 to 80 degrees Celsius, of minus 20 degrees Celsius, or a storing temperature of minus 24-25 degrees Celsius.

“Currently, all the vaccines that are distributed to our institution's vaccination center are kept in this refrigerator, donated by UNICEF. It has made our work much easier. It also means that people who come for vaccination no longer have to wait,” said Viorica Ușurelu, a nurse at the Health Center in Strășeni.

To ensure the safe storage of vaccines, UNICEF also distributed 500 Fridge-tag 2E temperature monitoring devices. In order to fully ensure the cold chain from the central vaccine warehouse to the Public Health Centers, UNICEF has also purchased 1,800 cold boxes to transport vaccines, which have been distributed to all Public Health Centers in the country.

The total amount of the donation is USD 350,000. The donation is made under the ‘Prevention and Response to COVID-19’ Program, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by UNICEF Moldova.

The project is part of USD 3.9 million in assistance provided by the US Government through USAID to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Moldova.