January 13, 2023 – Kingston, Jamaica – International Affairs Canada
Because the pandemic continues to evolve, it’s essential to make sure excessive danger populations can entry vaccines. In Latin America and the Caribbean, like in different areas, well being methods proceed to face vital challenges to ship COVID-19 immunization and broader well being companies, whereas additionally enhancing preparedness for the longer term.
At this time, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Worldwide Growth and Minister liable for the Pacific Financial Growth Company of Canada, introduced a $45-million contribution to the Pan-American Well being Group (PAHO) for the Latin America and Caribbean(LAC) Area and a $70-million contribution to the United Nations Youngsters’s Fund (UNICEF) globally as a part of Canada’s signature International Initiative for Vaccine Fairness (CanGIVE).
CanGIVE initiatives will help efforts to extend COVID-19 vaccination by addressing boundaries to vaccination for folks in susceptible conditions, together with girls and women, and reinforcing well being methods all through the area, with a selected give attention to Colombia, Haiti and Jamaica. Canada’s partnership with UNICEF will help elevated equitable distribution and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, and strengthened gender-sensitive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) efforts, major well being care and routine immunization companies. Its partnership with PAHO goals to extend entry to COVID-19 vaccination by supporting group engagement, well being employee coaching and vaccine surveillance within the Americas.
There may be nonetheless work to do to manage the COVID-19 virus and transfer in the direction of an inclusive, sustainable restoration. Canada stays dedicated to working with Latin America and the Caribbean nations, together with Jamaica, via our partnerships with PAHO and UNICEF to extend entry to vaccines and be higher ready to handle any future international well being crises.
Quotes
“We all know that finally, vaccines don’t do any good sitting in vials. It takes a well being system to show a vaccine right into a vaccination. That’s why we’re working with our companions to assist guarantee vaccines attain those that want them essentially the most.”
Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Worldwide Growth and Minister liable for the Pacific Financial Growth Company of Canada
Fast information
Canada’s CanGIVE funding to PAHO will improve entry to COVID-19 vaccination by strengthening well being methods and supporting well being data methods and digital platforms for COVID-19 vaccine surveillance within the LAC Area. Canada’s contribution can even help analysis to construct proof on COVID-19 vaccination uptake and have interaction communities to handle gender-related boundaries to vaccine confidence.
Canada’s help to UNICEF for CanGIVE programming will develop and combine digital COVID-19 vaccination instruments inside routine immunization, have interaction high-risk and precedence teams to grasp and handle localized and gender-related boundaries to vaccination, in addition to reinforce childhood vaccination. Canada’s funding can even help chilly chain coaching and upgrades and strengthen gender-sensitive WASH efforts.
The contribution introduced in the present day 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 vaccine supply and distribution in 12 nations together with Colombia, Haiti and Jamaica, in addition to to the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Area extra broadly. At this time’s announcement brings the CanGIVE program to a complete of $275 million.
Canada has been an ally to nations in LAC for the reason that starting of the pandemic. In Might 2021, Canada supplied $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 at-risk girls, migrants, refugees, transient individuals, Indigenous and susceptible populations in areas the place well being circumstances are sometimes precarious.
With Canada’s help, PAHO was capable of present vaccine procurement and deliveries, complete technical help, cold-chain gear and complete well being communication. Canada contributed to PAHO’s Revolving Fund efforts, which facilitated the supply of 125 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 33 nations as a part of the COVAX Facility.