New Zealand grants $1.6M to Tonga for Pharmacy Warehouse [1]
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - 18:52
Tonga has received a grant of NZ$1.6M from New Zealand on 25 May, for construction of a new central pharmacy warehouse to assist Tonga's COVID-19 preparedness and response activities.
New Zealand High Commissioner HE Tiffany Babington handed over the signed grant contribution letter to the Ministry of Health Acting CEO, Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa and Medical Superintendent, Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola.
The contribution is in response to a request from the Ministry of Health for its National Deployment and Vaccine Plan.
The Central Pharmacy Warehouse will be a central location for receiving and distributing medicine and medical supplies to health facilities across Tonga’s island groups. The warehouse will also store vaccines in refrigeration and will be fit for purpose and keep stock safe from natural hazards and climate change risks.
The funds for the pharmacy warehouse is under the New Zealand Aid Programme’s COVID-19 Preparedness & Vaccines Fund.
New Zealand has provided other funding to Tonga including:
- NZ$4 million in budget support for the Government’s COVID-19 stimulus package.
- NZ$100,000 from the Emergency High Commission or Embassy Fund to the Ministry of Health for a medical waste collection truck.
- NZ$1 million to MoH’s pandemic preparedness and response plan.
- NZ$550,000 worth of Personal Protective Equipment
In addition, Tonga also benefitted from funds provided to the Pacific region by New Zealand including:
- NZ$1 million to support implementation of the WHO Pacific Regional Preparedness and Response Plan
- NZ$1 million to support WHO purchase GeneXpert machines and cartridges which have given Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, COVID-19 testing capability
- New Zealand COVID-19 vaccine support for Polynesia and the Pacific, including through COVAX