By MIRIAM  ZIMBA –
An effective vaccine cold chain management system is the cornerstone for successful immunisation health service delivery.
This is especially so if the country is to prevent infant and child mortality associated with vaccine preventable diseases.
According to the 2013/2014 Zambia and Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS), Zambia’s immunisation coverage stands  at about 68 per cent of fully immunised children .
According to the 2013/2014 ZDHS, 45 babies of every 1000 live births die, while 75 under-five children are dying per 1000 live births.
Having realised  gaps  the country faces in the vaccine cold chain system and the important role it plays in the health sector, the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), recently donated 446 vaccine fridges, two trucks and a refurbished national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) cold chain workshop to the
health sector.

• Utility trucks donated by CIDRZ for vaccine delivery to health centers.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, CIDRZ Chief Executive Officer Charles Holmes expressed gratitude to the generous support of ELMA Philanthropies, whom he said were a key partner in the provision of resources for the vaccine fridges, transport, training and support to health personnel.
“This has seen the capacity at national level vaccine cold storage facility expanded from a mere 144 litres to 212,000 litres,” he said.
He said vaccines are delicate and require an appropriate storage and conveyance system to keep them more  effective.
“The vaccine cold chain starts from the delivery of the vaccines in the country until each dose is administered to a child.
“Thus, the temperature-regulated vaccine fridges are a key component of this necessary cold chain and their presence will directly provide a  positive and healthy impact on the lives of Zambian children by ensuring that safe, life-saving vaccines are available for all children, especially those in hard to reach areas,” he adds.
Dr Holmes said a functional and effective vaccine cold chain system is even more critical now as new vaccines come at a higher price.
“While we celebrate the recent addition of three important infant vaccines to the Zambian childhood immunisation system-the pneumococcal, second dose of measles, and rotavirus, we must also be mindful that this investment heightens our obligation as stakeholders and partners to government,” he said.
He said efforts of combating childhood morbidity and mortality by targeting vaccine preventable diseases is imperative, especially that infant and under-five motalities in Zambia are still very high.
The Zambian Government is also alive to these facts, and the  Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Permanent Secretary Elwyn Chomba said,  Government with the support from its cooperating partners, developed a vaccine cold chain expansion strategy after identifying the gaps in the logistics of cold chain system in 2011.
“This equipment CIDRZ is handing over today is in response to the above strategy and government is grateful to CIDRZ for this gesture which could not have come at a better time than now,” she says.
Professor Chomba explained that the sub-optimal child vaccine coverage in the country is a risk to the reimbursement of vaccine preventable disease outbreaks such as,  measles and polio which are childhood killer diseases.
Therefore, cold chain and effective logistics management is critical to attaining and sustaining high immunisation coverage.
Government is now insisting on the availability of cold chain equipment at district and health centre level. It says this will improve immunistaion services and bring it as close as possible to community and family levels.
“Today, we are witnessing a milestone in the immunisation programme in which CIDRZ has handed over equipment valued at over K14 million supported by ELMA Vaccine and Immunisation Foundation,” Professor Chomba said.
In commending CIDRZ and other cooperating partners such as  the Japanese International Coopeartion Agency(JICA), Prof Chomba called on them not to relent in the acquisition of appropriate transportation for outreach services in hard to reach areas.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended the Zambian Government on what it describes as a landmark achievement in the implementation of the vaccine cold chain expansion strategy.
WHO representative Mary Bwalya stressed the importance of cold chain as a cornerstone for immunisation service delivery.
She said the donation by CIDRZ will contribute to improved access and quality of immunisation services particularly in the newly created districts where these facilities may not be available, as well as in districts where old facilities need to be replaced.
Dr Bwalya commended CIDRZ for contributing to the sustainability of the functioning of the cold chain equipment by rehabilitating the national cold chain workshop through the training of technicians.
“These are critical actions in ensuring the sustainability of the equipment and yet in many instances do not receive adequate attention,” she said.
The 2011 vaccine cold chain expansion strategy has served as an advocacy tool and has brought around the table immunisation partners to rally around cold chain investments.
The efforts by CIDRZ come at this opportune in time when all stakeholders are needed to ensure immunisation services are stepped up to reach all children in the country with life-saving vaccines.
She said WHO remains committed to supporting the Government in its efforts to improve immunisation services and to reduce child deaths as a result of vaccine preventable diseases.
In moving a vote of thanks on behalf of the health sector in the provinces, Lusaka Provincial Medical Officer Kennedy Malama commended CIDRZ for it unwavering support to the country’s health sector especially the country’s EPI strategy.
In stressing the timelines of the donation by CIDRZ, Dr Malama was delighted that matters relating to improved vaccine cold chain management are receiving the desired attention from Government and its cooperating partners.
“Our immunisation coverage for children has been lower than expected over the years in most districts, and some of the reasons include inadequate or lack of vaccine fridges, transportation and human resource,” he said.
Dr Malama said interventions such as purchasing of vaccine fridges, and improved transportation are interventions that will go a long way in improving the country’s integrated outreaches in communities increasing immunisation coverage and improving child survival.
Dr Malama recommends to Government that solar and electrical fridges are required because paraffin fridges were a serious challenge in health service provision.
This is because costs related to procuring paraffin and wicks are straining on the limited resources in the health sector.
This donation by CIDRZ will ease the difficulties health sectors face in storing vaccines in distant health centres equipped with vaccine storage facilities.
The provision of vaccine fridges and vaccine storage equipment at the level of health facilities will also act as a motivation to health personnel especially in the remote areas of the country.
He assured CICRZ that the equipment donated will be used for the intended purposes and that,  they will be well looked after.
“I assure you that we shall work closely with the communities and ensure that solar panels, batteries and indeed fridges, are safe-guarded as some unscrupulous people have been targeting these items especially where security has been compromised at health facilities.
“Our commitment is to ensure that the fully immunised children target of at least 80 per cent in districts,  is attained and this is our pledge to you,” he said.
Undoubtedly, the donation by CIDRZ will go a long way in helping the country realise and actualise its vision for improved child health service provision.