The GAVI Alliance and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) have donated cold chain equipment valued at about $11 million USD to boost immunisation response in the country and enhance Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.

The equipment includes 1,653 Solar Direct Drive Refrigerators, 165 sets of spare parts, and Temperature monitoring devices (both remote and 30-Day Temperature Recorders).

Speaking at the handover ceremony on Wednesday in Abuja, Chief of Health at UNICEF, Dr. Maharajan Muthu, who described the donations as a significant milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, observed that cold chain infrastructure is the backbone of effective immunisation programs as it ensures that vaccines and other temperature-sensitive medical supplies retain their potency from storage to administration.

Muthu stated that the initiative aligns with the Nigerian Government’s priorities and GAVI’s goal of revitalising primary health care and strengthening health systems.

He noted that the refrigerators will make outreach to remote communities more efficient and help reach more zero-dose children, enabling safe vaccine storage in areas without reliable electricity, and ensuring that safe and effective vaccines reach every child, leaving no one behind.

Muthu emphasised that the efforts will contribute to achieving Nigeria’s target of a 50% reduction of zero-dose children by 2028, adding that efforts are needed to address some of the remaining challenges.

He noted that as a core alliance partner to GAVI and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), UNICEF, in the area of strengthening cold chain systems, provides technical support in analytics, identification of cold chain needs, procurement, and delivery of state-of-the-art equipment.

He commended the GAVI Alliance, WHO, NPHCDA, and other partners for their efforts to increase routine immunisation coverage in Nigeria, adding that UNICEF remains committed to working alongside the Federal Government to overcome health challenges facing Nigerians.

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, who received the equipment on behalf of the government, said that the donations were in response to the gaps in the front line, particularly for cold chain infrastructure, adding that the equipment will be distributed to PHC facilities in underserved areas, rural areas, and areas with high disease burden across all States and FCT.

Aina observed that the donations were very timely, especially now that the country is planning an integrated campaign for measles and Rubella vaccination, kicking off in October and other interventions.

He urged Nigerians to work with the agency to reach 109 million young people between zero to 40 years with different vaccines as part of this campaign.

Aina explained that of the 1,653 Solar Direct Drive Refrigerators, 1,241 are of the brand B Medical Systems, while the remaining 412 are Dulas brand plus, and these were selected through a very rigorous process that builds on the NPHCDA’s experience with equipment that it has across the country.

He noted that in addition to the 1,653 units, the agency is also getting spare parts.

He said, “One of the things we’re very mindful of is we don’t want to procure equipment that will function for only a couple of years without backup. So we have 165 packs of spare parts, and we have a 10-year maintenance agreement and preventive maintenance by the vendor who supplied us. In addition, we have temperature monitoring devices that accompany every single unit of this equipment.

“This fortunate equipment will go onward to states. The first batch of 525 units is here as we speak. The rest of the 1,653 have already landed in the country and are in the process. Some are already in trucks on their way, some are making their way through the clearing process, but 100% of all these devices and parts are already in the country, and we thank you for that.”

He stated that 448 units of the Direct Drive Refrigerators and wind facilities will be going to states in the northwest zone, while the north central zone will receive 308 units, the northeast zone 128, the southeast zone 205 units, the southwest zone will receive 343 units, and the south-south zone will receive 221 units.

He said, “So in all, 884 units or 53%, just over half of these devices, will go to states in northern Nigeria, while 769 or 47% will go to states in southern Nigeria. The timing of the receipt of these devices could not be more perfect, in view of the reforms that we’re doing in our regionalisation program, but also the campaign programmes. We all know that immunisation is a critical part of primary healthcare.”

On his part, the Acting World Health Organisation Country Representative, Dr. Alex Gasasira, stated that the Solar Direct Drive will play a pivotal role in enhancing Nigeria’s immunisation infrastructure and maintaining vaccine quality and safety, especially in remote and early-challenge communities.

According to him, this initiative aligns with WHO strategic priorities, particularly those outlined in the immunisation agenda of 2018, which advocates for equitable access to vaccines, sustainable cold chain systems, and integration with primary health care.

Gasasira, who was represented by Dr. Alex Chimbaru, noted that by leveraging solar technology, we are ensuring not only the quality and safety of vaccines but also looking to upgrade underserved areas, advance environmental sustainability, and strengthen our systems’ resilience.

He said, “With nationwide deployment of these SSD refrigerators, we anticipate substantial improvements in routine immunisation coverage, a reduction in vaccine wastage, better protection against vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, and enhanced service delivery at the last mile. This contributes to our goal of achieving the best health coverage and protecting our children, reflecting our shared commitment to leaving no one behind in ensuring vaccine equity and health justice.”