Uganda Boosts Immunization Efforts with Cold Chain Equipment Launch
By Fredrick Siminyu
The Ministry of Health in Uganda has taken a significant step towards improving immunization coverage and protecting the health of its citizens with the launch of the second phase of Cold Chain Equipment for selected districts.
This initiative, implemented through the Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization (UNEPI), aims to procure and install effective, sustainable, and dependable vaccine storage equipment in the national cold chain system.
According to Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the project will reduce operating costs and facilitate effective management and maintenance to ensure an efficient cold chain system.
“The Cold Chain equipment will further enhance vaccine storage capacity and ensure vaccines remain effective and potent by maintaining the required temperature during storage and transportation, thereby preventing vaccine damage,” Dr. Atwine emphasized during the flagging-over ceremony on October 30, 2024.
A total of 776 refrigerators and 346 cold chain equipment have been dispatched to the selected districts, marking a significant milestone in Uganda’s efforts to strengthen its immunization program.
This initiative is made possible through funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Bank’s Uganda COVID-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREPP), the World Health Organization (WHO Uganda), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
