Haiti - Health : Brazil gives $11.8MM for the purchase of vaccines
The Brazilian Ministry of Health announced Thursday it had authorized a grant of $11.8MM to purchase vaccines and medical supplies for Haiti.
The ministry said that $4.3MM will be transferred to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which will be responsible for the purchase of vaccines against rabies, diphtheria and tetanus (DT) and diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP). According to the Ministry, this amount is sufficient to cover the vaccine requirements in Haiti for two years.
$7.5MM will be transferred to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which will be responsible for the purchase of refrigerated storage equipment for vaccines and other perishable items and various medical items.
This donation responds to a joint proposal between Brazil, Cuba and Haiti and is part of an aid commitment signed by Brazil in March 2010, for strengthen the Haitian health system. Until now, the Brazilian Ministry of Health in Haiti has sent over 405 tons of medicines, surgical supplies and over 100,000 doses of vaccines against hepatitis B. In addition, 40 kits were sent to the program against drugs, to help 20,000 people.
