Uganda's Ministry of Health Launches Second Phase of Cold Chain Equipment to Boost Immunisation Efforts

Uganda’s Ministry of Health, through the Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunisation (UNEPI), launched the second phase of Cold Chain Equipment today.

This initiative is expected to strengthen the country’s cold chain system across various districts, ensuring vaccines remain effective and accessible.

The launch saw the dispatch of 776 refrigerators and 346 additional cold chain equipment to selected districts. These resources are designed to improve the storage and transportation of vaccines by maintaining optimal temperatures, a critical step in protecting the potency and effectiveness of vaccines.

Presiding over the flag-off ceremony, the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, highlighted the project’s objective to establish a sustainable and dependable national cold chain system.

"This project aims to procure and install effective, sustainable, and dependable vaccine storage equipment to our national cold chain system, reducing operating costs and facilitating efficient management and maintenance," she noted.

Funded by GAVI and the World Bank under the Uganda COVID-19 Response and Preparedness Project (UCREPP), and with support from WHO and UNICEF, this cold chain equipment initiative underscores a collaborative effort to strengthen Uganda’s health system.

With these new installations, districts will be better equipped to manage immunisation services, ensuring vaccines reach communities in optimal condition, and enhancing the overall health of Ugandans.

The Cold Chain Equipment project is part of a broader government strategy to expand immunisation coverage and build a more resilient healthcare system.

By maintaining vaccines at the required temperatures during storage and transport, the Ministry of Health aims to prevent vaccine wastage and guarantee effectiveness.