UNICEF hands over cold chain equipment for vaccines to Uzbekistan

AKIPRESS.COM - In a bold bid to support child survival efforts through robust immunization systems in Uzbekistan UNICEF has handed multi-million of cold chain equipment to the Ministry of Health in Akkurgan district of Tashkent region. This new facility will further improve efficient vaccine management in the region. The equipment includes refrigerators, freezers for vaccines; temperature monitoring devices, cold boxes, vaccine carriers and other supportive equipment.
The vaccine warehouse stores about 3,000 liters of vaccines for the vaccination of 9,000 children under 1. Walk-in-cold rooms have been supplied and installed in this facility to keep vaccines safe with a temperature of plus 2-8°C. The overall capacity of this warehouse allows fast access and speedy transportation of vaccines to the enlarged number of children under 5 living in neighboring districts.
Geoffrey Ijumba, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Uzbekistan, handed over the equipment to Dr. Kholmamat Norboyev, First Deputy Head of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
"An effective cold chain infrastructural network is key to our quest to ensure equitable access of vaccines and immunization for every child, as this allows keep vaccines safe on the way from the manufacturer to every child," said Geoffrey Ijumba. "I believe that the Government will allocate adequate financial and human resources for proper maintenance of the provided equipment on regular basis, so it will serve for a long period of time," he added.
Since 2017, UNICEF has supported the construction of a total of 21 vaccine warehouses across Uzbekistan. Currently, 16 vaccine warehouses with a volume from 10 to 40 cubic meters equipped with modern equipment such as fire protection and security alarm system, loading and unloading system, refrigerators, freezers, temperature monitoring devices, cold boxes, generators. UNICEF also provides protective clothing for staff. Another 5 warehouses will be commissioned in early 2021.
UNICEF also supports the training of staff, provision of necessary guidelines and instructions on how to run the facility, refrigerated trucks, vaccine carriers and cold boxes.