The installation of this cold room will have a positive impact in improving vaccine storage and management.
"Using the opportunity of the manageable size of our region and the progressive high potential health service coverage, and the very soon deployment of urban health extension workers which is the first in the country, we strive to reach 100% EPI coverage within the next few years" said Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed, Mayor of Diredawa Provisional Administration.
This handing over coincides with the launching of the new pentavalent vaccine (DPT-Hepatitis B and Haemophilus Influenza type B) by HE the State Minister of Health in Jijiga on 23rd March 2007. The increased cold room storage capacity will be needed to accommodate the new vaccine storage requirements.
According to Dr. Tsegereda, Head of the Diredawa Regional Health Bureau, the region is ready to introduce the new pentavalent vaccine in the whole region and the increased cold room storage capacity is a good opportunity to accommodate. She has appreciated WHO's timely support on this.
The walk-in cold room is intended to serve as a central vaccine store for Dire Dawa City Administration Health Bureau, as well as for Harari and Somali Regional Health Bureaus of Ethiopia until full expansion of the cold chain is achieved.
The three Health Bureaus will benefit from reduced recurring costs of transporting vaccine from the centre, efficient vaccine management, and collaborative performance among themselves.
The WHO Representative for Ethiopia, in his remarks, reiterated WHO's commitment for a continued support in improving the health status of the people residing in Dire Dawa City and throughout Ethiopia.
Source: Relief Web
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