According to WHO, as of 2007, there are 47 countries where measles is
endemic and four countries in Asia and Africa where polio is endemic.
For all people, regardless where they are born, it is necessary to get
vaccinated to survive these fatal infectious diseases.
Especially for children all over the world, it is essential to get timely
immunization by the proper vaccines so that they can lead their lives in
good health. Vaccination protects and produces healthy children, bringing
smiles to their lives.
The necessary vaccines can be purchased in developed countries at
reasonable prices.
However, in developing countries, still as many as 4,000 children under the
age of five die everyday because they lack those inexpensive vaccines.
People living in those countries cannot afford to buy them or do not know how important
vaccination is to their children.
JCV especially aims at the eradication of polio and controlling measles for
the world's children. To achieve these goals, JCV focuses on supporting
developing countries by providing appropriate vaccines.
However, we cannot make children live with smiles simply by providing only
the vaccine itself. To preserve vaccines and keep them vaccines effective,
strict quality control is essential to store the vaccines in a constant low
temperature environment. For that purpose we need to put in place the
so-called "Cold Chain System,"which includes the provision of cold storage
facilities such as freezers and
refrigerators, motorcyles, bicycles and special carrying boxes for delivery
so that we can ensure that the vaccines reach the children in proper
condition and at the proper time to immunize them. Inadequate electricity
supplies require the use of solar powered batteries to operate the
equipment needed for the cold chain system.
In southeast Asia, JCV also helps countries in maintaining and enhancing
this cold chain system.