UNICEF and its partners are strengthening vaccine storage systems in Western Bahr el Ghazal with solar-powered refrigeration and a broader health support programme aimed at protecting children from preventable diseases.
Health officials say the upgrades are reinforcing the “cold chain” — the system that keeps vaccines within strict temperature ranges from arrival in the country to administration at health facilities.
“Vaccines are very sensitive biological products,” said Philip Lual, monitoring and evaluation officer for the state’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). “If they are exposed to heat or light, they can lose their potency and may not protect the child.”
South Sudan imports vaccines that are first stored at the national warehouse in Juba before being distributed to states and counties. From there, doses are transported to health facilities serving communities across Western Bahr el Ghazal, a region with more than 620,000 people.
Maintaining proper storage conditions has long been a challenge due to unreliable electricity and fuel shortages.
A UNICEF-supported health specialist said the system has undergone a major shift in recent years. “Two years ago we transitioned from using generators and fuel to solarizing the cold chain equipment,” he said.
Solar systems installed at vaccine storage hubs now use lithium batteries to power refrigerators that maintain required temperatures, sharply reducing fuel consumption.
“Previously we used about 4,500 litres of fuel each month. Now we provide less than 10,000 litres in an entire year, mainly during vaccination campaigns when ice packs need to be frozen,” he said.
Officials say the transition has cut operational costs across the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region from about $1.2 million annually to less than $200,000, while also improving reliability and reducing the risk of vaccine spoilage.
The upgrades are being implemented alongside the Health Sector Transformation Project, which supports healthcare delivery across Western Bahr el Ghazal.
The programme covers 26 health facilities — including hospitals, primary health care centres and community health units — and aims to expand access to essential health and nutrition services for vulnerable populations.
Health officials say the combined support is improving vaccine access and service delivery. Previously, some facilities lacked permanent refrigeration and relied on weekly vaccine collection using insulated cold boxes.
With solar-powered refrigerators now installed, vaccines can be stored on-site, allowing children to be immunised when they arrive at clinics. Routine immunisation services are conducted daily, alongside outreach campaigns targeting remote communities.
Programme data shows vaccination coverage in the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region has reached about 84% for the pentavalent vaccine and 67% for measles.
Officials say maintaining the cold chain is critical to sustaining those gains.
“When vaccines are kept at the recommended temperature, they remain potent and can protect children,” the specialist said.
Despite ongoing challenges, health authorities say solar technology and partner support are improving the reliability of immunisation services and helping protect children across the state.