The Federal Authorities has commenced the distribution of 1,653 solar-powered chilly chain items, valued at about $11 million, to strengthen vaccine storage and supply throughout the nation, with the Northwest and Northcentral states receiving the most important allocations.
Dr Muyi Aina, the Government Director of the Nationwide Major Well being Care Improvement Company (NPHCDA), mentioned this on Wednesday in Abuja through the supply of the solar-powered fridges from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to boost the nation’s vaccine provide chain.
Aina mentioned that Northwest would obtain 448 items, the best allocation, adopted by Northcentral with 308 items.
He mentioned the Southwest would get 343 items, the South-South – 221, Southeast – 205, and the Northeast – 128.
Renewed Hope Agenda in Focus
In response to Aina, the nationwide distribution is a part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to ship high-quality main healthcare providers, with immunization as a key pillar.
“Altogether, 884 items, 53 %of the full, can be deployed to northern Nigeria, whereas 759 items, representing 47%, would go to states within the south. Each state and the FCT will profit,” Aina mentioned.
He disclosed that the gear, procured with assist from companions together with Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, and others, would assure dependable vaccine storage in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
“The primary batch of 525 items is already warehoused in Abuja, whereas the remaining have landed in-country and are being dispatched.
“Every unit comes with spare elements, a 10-year upkeep settlement, and temperature monitoring gadgets to make sure sturdiness,” he mentioned.
UNICEF describes $11million funding as spine of immunization
Dr Maharajan Muthu, UNICEF Chief of Well being, reiterated its dedication to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its healthcare system, significantly within the space of immunization.
He mentioned the handover ceremony is a testomony to the facility of partnership and collaboration.
Muthu added that the chilly chain infrastructure is the spine of an efficient immunization programme, making certain that vaccines and different temperature-sensitive medical provides retain their efficiency from storage to administration.
He disclosed UNICEF’s position in supporting the NPHCDA in strengthening chilly chain methods, offering technical assist in analytics, identification of chilly chain wants, procurement, and supply of state-of-the-art gear.
“The handover contains 1,653 photo voltaic direct drive fridges, 165 units of spare elements, temperature monitoring gadgets, and 30-day temperature recorders, valued at roughly 11 million {dollars}.
“This funding will considerably improve Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure, enabling outreach to distant communities and making certain that secure and efficient vaccines attain each baby, leaving nobody behind,” he mentioned.
He famous that whereas the provides handed over tackle one set of challenges associated to chilly chain gear, efforts are wanted to handle remaining challenges equivalent to asset registration and monitoring, common upkeep, vaccine and logistics inventory monitoring, and sustainable financing options.
“UNICEF stays dedicated to working alongside the federal authorities of Nigeria to beat these challenges.
“We’ll proceed to strengthen the immunization provide chain, assist group engagement, and advocate for sustainable financing to make sure each baby receives life-saving vaccines,” he mentioned.
He expressed appreciation to Gavi and alliance companions, together with WHO, NPHCDA, and the Ministry of Well being, for his or her efforts to extend immunization protection in Nigeria.
Extra insights
Represented by his deputy, Dr Alex Chimbaru, he prolonged honest appreciation to the federal government of Nigeria, Gavi, UNICEF, and different companions for his or her dedication to immunization.
“The handover ceremony of the Photo voltaic Direct Drive Fridge to the NPHCDA marks a pivotal position in direction of enhancing Nigeria’s immunization infrastructure.
“These solar-powered fridges will play a significant position in sustaining vaccine high quality and security, particularly in distant and energy-challenged communities,” he mentioned.
The WHO consultant famous that the initiative aligns with worldwide strategic priorities, significantly these outlined within the Immunization Agenda 2030, which advocates for equitable entry to vaccines, sustainable chilly chain methods, and integration with main well being care.
“By leveraging photo voltaic know-how, we’re making certain not solely the efficiency of vaccines but in addition advancing environmental sustainability and strengthening well being methods’ resilience,” Gasasira added.
Photo voltaic-powered chilly chain gear is a fridge that makes use of photo voltaic power to maintain vaccines and different medical provides at secure temperatures, even in areas with out dependable electrical energy.
It ensures vaccines stay potent from storage to administration, prevents wastage, and helps attain youngsters in distant communities.
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