January 13, 2023 – Kingston, Jamaica – International Affairs Canada
Because the pandemic continues to evolve, it’s essential to make sure that high-risk populations can entry vaccines. In Latin America and the Caribbean, as in different areas, well being programs proceed to face vital challenges in offering COVID-19 immunization and broader well being companies, in addition to growing preparedness for the longer term.
At the moment, the Honorable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Worldwide Improvement and Minister accountable for the Pacific Financial Improvement Company of Canada, introduced a contribution of $45 million to the Pan American Well being Group (PAHO) for the ‘Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Area and a contribution of $70 million to the United Nations Youngsters’s Fund (UNICEF) worldwide as a part of Canada’s international initiative for vaccine fairness (CanGIVE).
CanGIVE tasks will help efforts to scale up COVID-19 vaccination by addressing limitations to vaccination for folks in susceptible conditions, together with girls and women, and strengthening well being programs throughout the area, with a particular deal with Colombia, Haiti and Jamaica. Canada’s partnership with UNICEF will help extra equitable distribution and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, and strengthen efforts in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), main well being care main and routine immunization companies. Its collaboration with PAHO goals to extend entry to the COVID-19 vaccination by supporting group engagement, well being employee coaching and vaccine surveillance within the Americas.
There may be nonetheless work to be carried out to manage the COVID-19 virus and transfer in direction of an inclusive and sustainable restoration. Canada stays dedicated to working with nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, together with Jamaica, via our partnerships with PAHO and UNICEF to extend entry to vaccines and be higher ready to face any future international well being crises.
Quotes
“We all know that ultimately, vaccines do not do properly sitting in vials. It takes a well being system to show a vaccine right into a vaccination. That is why we work with our companions to assist be sure that vaccines attain those that want it most.”
- Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Worldwide Improvement and Minister accountable for Canada’s Pacific Financial Improvement Company
Fast information
Canada’s CanGIVE funding to PAHO will enhance entry to COVID-19 vaccination by strengthening well being programs and supporting well being info programs and digital platforms for COVID-19 vaccine surveillance within the LAC Area . Canada’s contribution additionally helps analysis to construct proof on COVID-19 vaccination uptake and have interaction communities to handle gender limitations to vaccine confidence.
Canada’s help to UNICEF for CanGIVE programming will develop and combine digital COVID-19 vaccination instruments into routine immunization, interact high-risk and precedence teams to know and tackle localized and gender-related limitations to vaccination, and in addition strengthen childhood vaccination. Canada’s funding can even help chilly chain coaching and upgrades and strengthen gender-sensitive WASH efforts.
The contribution introduced at this time is a part of the $732 million in multilateral funding for the ACT-Accelerator, introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Might 12, 2022, in the course of the second digital International COVID-19 Summit.
On June 22, 2022, Canada introduced $200 million in funding for a brand new signature initiative, Canada’s International Initiative for Vaccine Fairness (CanGIVE), aimed toward supporting distribution and distribution of vaccines in 12 nations together with Colombia, Haiti and Jamaica, in addition to the US. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) area extra broadly. At the moment’s announcement brings the CanGIVE program to a complete of $275 million.
Canada has been an ally of the nations in LAC because the starting of the pandemic. In Might 2021, Canada offered $50 million to the Pan American Well being Group (PAHO) to help PAHO’s essential work in LAC to extend entry to COVID-19 vaccines for girls in danger, migrants, refugees, transient folks, indigenous populations and susceptible areas the place well being situations are usually precarious.
With Canada’s help, PAHO was in a position to present vaccine provides and shipments, full technical help, chilly chain tools and full well being communication. Canada contributed to PAHO’s Revolving Fund efforts, which facilitated the supply of 125 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 33 nations as a part of the COVAX Facility.
