The GAVI Alliance and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have donated cold chain equipment valued at $11 million to boost immunisation response in the country and enhance the national healthcare infrastructure.
The equipment include 1,653 Solar Direct Drive Refrigerators, 165 sets of spare parts, temperature monitoring devices (both remote and 30-Day Temperature Recorders).
Speaking at the handing over ceremony yesterday 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 programmes, 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 Federal Government’s priorities and GAVI’s goal of revitalising primary healthcare and strengthening health systems.
He noted that the refrigerators would make outreach to remote communities more efficient and penetrating to more zero-dose children, enabling safe vaccine storage in areas without reliable electricity, and ensuring that safe and effective vaccines reach every child.
Muthu emphasised that the efforts would contribute to achieving the nation’s target of a 50 per cent reduction of zero-dose children by 2028, adding that measures were needed to address some of the remaining challenges
Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, who received the items on behalf of the government, submitted that the donations were in response to 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 the federation.
Aina said the gesture was timely, especially now that the country is planning an integrated campaign for measles and Rubella vaccination in October, among other interventions.
