BACKGROUND: A cold chain is a temperature-controlled supply chain with uninterrupted chain of activities that maintain a given temperature range that keep and maintain the quality of vaccines. Vaccines move through complex procedures and processes that require special attention and care. Effective cold chain systems require efficient end-to-end vaccine storage, handling, and stock management to maintain vaccines under strict temperature control of between 2 °C and 8 °C (for almost all vaccines). METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study design and mixed (qualitative and quantitative) research approach is employed to conducting the research. Data were collected through face to face in-depth interviews and questionnaires from Vaccinators and key persons from IPs. Prior to data collection, ethical approval was obtained from national Ministry of Health, Directorate of planning and M&E, and the University of Rwanda, Research Committee Board. Accordingly, data were collected after seeking the personal consent sought from the participants. RESULTS: The key findings from this study showed that the cold chain coverage has been improved compared to the result obtained in EPI coverage survey conducted in 2017. The results revealed that inadequate availability of EPI cold technicians, lack of fridge spare parts, trained staff, and adequate vaccine forecasting was the major challenges at county and the health facility level. CONCLUSIONS: The main factor that contributed positively in strengthening vaccines supply chain system in the Upper Nile State was the substantive increase in cold chain coverage. However, the role of the CCEOP in improving immunization coverage is still doubted due to lack of regular preventive maintenance, spare parts, and EPI technicians. The major challenges that affect the vaccines relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability were found to be mainly poor vaccines handling, due to inadequate knowledge on cold chain management.
Background: This study was conducted to understand the practices and the challenges associated with information and communication technology in health supply chain management in Al Sabah children’s hospital in Juba, South Sudan. The aim was to assess the practices of information technology adoption in the health supply chain management and also to identify the major challenges associated with the adoption of this technology in the Hospital. Methods: An in-depth interview was conducted with the 8 health workers in the different units of Alsabah children’s hospital viz. out-patient, pharmacy, EPI, Laboratory, state drug warehouse located within the hospital, and Admin and Finance department. Published articles were searched online to identify the relevant studies and the collected data were analysed narratively. Results: It was observed that no Information and Communication technologies application are used in the hospital for communication between the staff and the patients, monitoring of the patients, and supervision is done in person which is very difficult for the hospital staff to manage with serve shortage of the skilled and qualified staff in the hospital. Lack of internet facility is the main challenge and patient information is recorded in the registers and all the information from different units is submitted to the hospital statistician on a weekly basis for summarization. The hard copies of the report are submitted to the county health department office on a weekly and monthly basis. Conclusion: This study concluded that the management and the staff of the hospital face a lot of difficulties in performing their duties due to the lack of Information Communication Technologies in the hospital. A lot of time is spent attending to the patients, the decision is not made on time, and supervision of the patients is not adequately carried out. If provided new technologies, it will help the Physicians and the Nurses in performing their duties with ease and without wastage of time.
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