The Ministry of Health (MOH), through the Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization (UNEPI), has launched the second phase of the Cold Chain Equipment for selected districts, in a significant step towards improving immunization coverage and protecting the overall health of Ugandans.
Speaking at the flagging-over ceremony on October 30, 2024, at the Ministry’s headquarters, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, noted that the project aims to procure and install effective, sustainable, and dependable vaccine storage equipment in the national cold chain system.
According to Atwine, 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 there by preventing vaccine damage,” Atwine said.
She noted that a total of 776 refrigerators and 346 cold chain equipment have been dispatched to the selected districts.
This initiative is funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Bank through the Uganda COVID-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREPP), the World Health Organisation (WHO Uganda), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).