The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has presented a Fast Cold Chain Equipment to the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board.
Presenting the items on Tuesday, the Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr Rahama Rihood-Mohammed, said the gesture would strengthen child health initiatives and boost the state’s immunisation coverage.
The equipment includes 39 cold boxes, 1,420 vaccine carriers, 1,208 Icepacks of 0.6 size and 1,704 Icepacks of 0.3 size.
“These equipment are very critical because they ensure that vaccines are maintained at the optimal temperature and conditions while being administered to children.
“The effective use of these cold chain equipment will contribute to the reduction of unimmunised or zero dose children, improve children immunity and herd immunity and reduce vaccine preventable child deaths” he said.
He said the equipment would be distributed to all the health facilities in all the 484 wards in the 44 LGAs across the state.
Rihood-Mohammed noted that the equipment would further bridge the gap experienced by the health facility staff in the logistics of vaccine distribution.
He recalled that UNICEF in the past supported the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board with walk-in cold rooms, vaccines, and Solar Direct Drive (SDD), which is powered directly by solar.
“UNICEF has delivered a total of 3.9million doses of vaccines to Kano State for the upcoming Supplemental Immunisation Plus Days Campaign which will be implemented from Sept.28, to Oct.1, for children under 5 years.
“UNICEF is committed to support Nigeria’s healthcare system and reduce child mortality by ensuring access to essential vaccines and healthcare services.
He called on all parents and caregivers to bring their children to be vaccinated against Polio.
Responding, the Incident Manager Kano State Emergency Operation Center (EOC), Dr Abdullahi Ahmed, lauded the gesture, adding it would help the state healthcare system by ensuring the safety of keeping vaccines.
While ensuring the effective use of the equipment and a sustained partnership with UNICEF.
Also, the Kano State Immunisation Officer Sa’adatu Ibrahim, commended UNICEF and Federal Government for their support.
Ibrahim noted that the fast cold chain would go a long way in boosting immunisation campaigns of polio, measles, diphtheria, hepatitis and yellow fever.
“We are utilising this very important items to have a successful and hitch free campaign, as the carriers and icepacks would maintain the potency of the vaccines” Ibrahim said.
NAN
