The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), on Friday, handed over various cold chain equipment to the South Sudan government aimed at helping the country store vaccines safely.
The equipment, valued at 573,784.14 U.S. dollars, includes 65 cold chain equipment, freezers, and solar-powered fridges.
The equipment was donated in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Juba on Friday, Africa CDC Representative Dr. Lucy Mazyanga, said the new equipment would help the ministry reach the most remote areas.
“The equipment as you heard from my sister Hamida includes 65 refrigerators, four voltage stabilizers and three thermometers, and several accessories that will ensure the safe storage and transportation of vaccines to the last mile,” she stated. “Even in remote areas with limited access to reliable power. To date, almost 98% of the equipment has been installed in the country within the country vaccine stores and health facilities.”
For her part, Minister of Health, Yolanda Awel Deng, said the cold chain equipment will strengthen its storage system.
“These resources that we have received will strengthen our capacity to store and transport vaccines under optimal conditions and it’s a very good thing that we have testimony from the head of UNICEF in the country that she went to one of the remotest places in South Sudan and she found that we have got very good quality vaccines available,” she said.
The UNICEF Country Representative, Hamida Lasseko, said the equipment will help to boost the immunization supply chain in the country.
“I would like to thank the team from Africa CDC for working closely with member states in providing the required cold chain equipment that will positively improve the immunization supply chain in South Sudan,” said Lasseko.