June 9 – The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has made a substantial donation of cold chain equipment valued at over USD 3.5 million to Nigeria. This donation is part of the phase one investment under the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative aimed at strengthening Africa’s health systems.
The equipment, which includes 115 solar-direct-driven refrigerators, 234 solar-driven freezers, 1,000 temperature monitoring devices, and 778 vaccine carriers and cold boxes, was handed over to Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). The donation aims to bolster Nigeria’s immunization drive and enhance its capacity to store and distribute vaccines effectively.
At the donation ceremony in Abuja, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya highlighted the significance of this contribution, stating, “This equipment will add immense value to Nigeria’s immunization efforts and boost its position as a leading nation in public health.”
This recent donation follows cumulative equipment contributions across five other member states: Botswana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia. Valued at up to USD 3.3 million, these donations included 465 refrigerators and freezers, 1,150 temperature monitors, 5,253 vaccine carriers and cold boxes, and two cold rooms. The initiative, supported by UNICEF, aims to improve the storage capacity of all vaccines and facilitate the introduction of new vaccines.
Ronak Khan, Deputy Country Representative of UNICEF Nigeria, emphasized the importance of the donation, noting, “This is the largest equipment donation in Africa under the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative. It is essential for preserving vaccines and maintaining temperature-sensitive medical supplies, aiding sub-national governments in delivering comprehensive vaccination programs.”
Expressing gratitude for the support, Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the NPHCDA, remarked, “This donation aligns with Nigeria’s goal of ensuring readily available life-saving vaccines and strengthened cold chain capacity. It will enhance vaccine storage and extend outreach to more communities across the country.”
The donation underscores the collaborative effort between Africa CDC, the Mastercard Foundation, and UNICEF to address healthcare delivery challenges in Africa. By providing state-of-the-art cold chain equipment, the partnership aims to ensure vaccine equity and improve health outcomes across the continent.
This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing Africa’s health infrastructure and supports the broader goal of improving public health through effective immunization strategies.