Report on Cold Chain Assessment of Jharkhand - 2005 - Nccvmtc.org

Cold Chain Assessment in Jharkhand1. INTRODUCTIONImmunization is a crucial component of the Public Health Services. Common sense tells usthat prevention is better than cure. “Immunization averted about 2 million deaths in 2002. …In addition, contagion is reduced, strain on the healthcare system is eased and money is frequentlysaved that can be used on other health services.” 1 Immunisation “is acknowledgedamong the most cost-effective and highest health-impact interventions.” 2 The backbone of anefficient immunization system is the cold chain. Cold chain refers to the network of equipment,personnel and processes that ensures that vaccines are transported and stored at appropriatetemperatures up to the point of administration, ensuring that they retain their potency.A well-managed cold chain will increase the proportion of effective vaccines that are administeredand reduce vaccine wastage.2. BACKGROUNDJharkhand gained statehood on 15 November 2000. Having formerly been a part of Bihar,which is categorized among the Bimaru states, Jharkhand inherited the low indices on all developmentcriteria. It is relevant to note that nine out of the 18 poorest districts in the countryare in Jharkhand. 3 In fact, it ranks very low on the Human Development Index (HDI), indicatingpoor achievements on the education, standard of living and health dimensions. Amongthe many goals listed by the state with regard to health is: Universal immunization for pregnantmothers and infants. 4 To achieve this goal, an efficient cold chain system becomes imperative.In Jharkhand, the existing vaccine management and logistics system has been adversely affectedby a virtually non-existent demand forecasting system, inadequate and/or improperstorage conditions, lack of trained manpower, non-existent transportation facilities, exceedinglypoor infrastructure in terms of roads in parts of the state, unreliable, and sometimesnon-existent, power supply, poor record keeping, wastage, irregular supplies, low motivationamong health workers and lack of sufficient financial and material resources.UNICEF initiated the cold chain assessment in the state in order to support the Jharkhandgovernment in making informed and substantiated decisions on cold chain rehabilitation inthe state.3. SCOPE OF ASSESSMENTThe specific objectives of the assessment included the following:3.1. Inventory:3.1.1. Electrical cold chain! List the existing number of Ice-Lined Refrigerators (ILRs) and Deep Freezers (DFs), includingdetails regarding date of installation, serial number, make, model, CFC/CFC-1 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs288/en/2 http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking3 fincomidia.nic.in/pubsugg/memo_jkhand.pdf+Human+Development+Index+Jharkhand&hl=en4 Ibid.8