UNFPA moves to strengthen electronic logistics management system in health sector

*Donates vehicles, Ebola equipment to ministry

AS part of its resolve to advance women’s reproductive health in Nigeria, the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated equipment and materials to the Ministry of Health and agencies under it.

The organization also handed over operational vehicles for the use of the sector.

   UNFPA is also supporting the Federal Ministry of Health and state ministries of health to strengthen electronic logistics management system (e-LMIS) to manage logistics data related to reproductive health life-saving drugs and family planning commodities. 

    Speaking at the donation of project vehicles to six states and the FCT, and the handing over of personal protective equipment and computer systems to the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja, Resident Representative of UNFPA, Madam Ratidzai Ndhlovu also charged Nigeria to remain vigilant on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

   She said: “The effort of government with support from partners to save the lives of its population was vividly demonstrated last year when they mobilized all the resources at their disposal to deal with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Nigeria did not become complacent after this great success that was acclaimed internationally. Instead, Nigeria went ahead to develop an Ebola national preparedness plan. This is highly commended because even though there has been progress in the most affected countries, the problem still exists and only yesterday there were reports of an increase in cases. UNFPA is here today to make its contribution to Nigeria’s national preparedness plan for Ebola through this donation of 1,000 PPE kits.”

   She stressed how UNFPA was supporting the management of logistics date for reproductive health supplies.

   She went further:  “For example, in 2014 UNFPA donated 186 Desktop computers including UPS and Printers to Seven States and the Central Contraceptives Warehouse in the Central Medical Stores Oshodi to support management of logistics data for Reproductive Health Supplies. This was followed with capacity building of 380 Health Care workers at State and LGA levels in the selected states on Logistics Management and CHANNEL Software. 

    “The CHANNEL is an internet-based system that facilities easy access to logistics data for forecasting and decision-making. The need for 2 laptops for the Central Contraceptives Warehouse was identified in 2014 hence this donation today. UNFPA is fully committed to support the Ministry in its development of an integrated supply chain management system. It may interest you to know that in its effort to strengthen support to the Ministry of Health in this particular area, UNFPA recently procured a high-end server with the capacity to store logistics data for all medical drugs, commodities and equipments for all hospitals and PHCs in all LGAs throughout the country.” 

    She said logistics management information systems would not function if the medical drugs and commodities are not procured and distributed in the first place. 

   On the handover of the vehicles, she noted: “We are here to handover to government 15 vehicles and it is important that we all understand the background to this handover.

   “UNFPA and Canadian Government made donation of maternal health medicines and medical equipment to the tune of US$6.2 mil in 2013, which were distributed to NPHCDA and SURE-P MSS Health Facilities in 7 focal states namely Lagos, Kebbi, Cross Rivers, Kaduna, Sokoto, Adamawa and Ebonyi and also the FCT. The items donated include Magnesium Sulphate for managing Eclampsia in pregnancy which is the cause of about 11% of maternal death; Oxytocic drugs for use of prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage which accounts for about 23% of maternal deaths in Nigeria as well as medical equipment including Resuscitation tables for neonates, Midwifery kits, Abdominal Retractors, Autoclaves for sterilization of surgical equipment, all of which will help to enhance the quality of maternal health service. In addition to this UNFPA invested heavily in capacity building and training of providers to the tune of over US$6 mil 2014.

    “These vehicles will not only enhance monitoring of the program but they will further boost the last mile distribution of essential medicines and drugs from the States Warehouse to the PHCs in the six states and in FCT. Our collaborative efforts have saved the lives of many women that would have died needlessly or otherwise incapacitated without support.”