Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ASPHDA, in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund, has held a one-day training on emergency preparedness and effective response to eradicate Cold Chain Equipment damage in Awka.
The training, also geared towards ensuring uninterrupted supply of vaccines and commodities during disasters, had in attendance members of Anambra State Cold Chain Immunization Unit, and Cold Chain Officers from the twenty-one local government areas of the state.
Objectives of the training were to refresh participant’s knowledge on Cold Chain Equipment Management practices, standard operational procedures in its safeguarding, introducing emergency preparedness, planning for disasters, providing participants with the opportunity to take stock and reflect on the experience of recent flood disaster and to develop a workable plan ahead, on damage prevention among others.
Speaking at the event , the Executive Secretary, ASPHDA, Pharmacist, Chisom Uchem, called for a supportive system to sustain healthcare system strengthening.
Pharmacist Uchem, represented by the Director, Disease Control and Immunization in the agency, Dr. Nnamdi Uliagbafusi, urged relevant stakeholders to be supportive to ensure improvement in the state’s immunization data base and continuous potency of vaccines, expressing concern that several Cold Chain Equipment meant to improve vaccine storage capacities were damaged as a result of the 2022 flooding in some local government areas.
She tasked every council area to develop its work plan to minimize effects of flooding on the Cold Chain Equipment.
For UNICEF Vaccine Security and Logistics Manager, Mr. Stanley Osum, to achieve the aim of vaccination, one must be alert and knowledgeable of his or her responsibilities of vaccine management to ensure its potency.
Mr. Osum, urged the officers to report any dysfunctional Cold Chain Equipment to them, even as he assured of development partners support in ensuring that vaccines are potent and given in a safe manner.
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