United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) through the Ministry of Health has disbursed 51 Cold Chain Equipment (Fridges) for the Immunization Program in Uasin Gishu County.

While receiving the equipment on behalf of the Department of Health Services from at the county headquarters, the Deputy Governor Eng. John Barorot appreciated UNICEF for its support in ensuring that the targeted population can comfortably access immunization services for children.

‘By supporting the county in the provision of Cold Chain Equipment, UNICEF also supports the immunization program to conduct outreach and Support supervision to ensure that all our Children are reached,’ he added.

‘We have received 51 Fridges at an approximate cost of Ksh 100 million and these fridges can keep vaccines at a temperature between 2-8°C which is required for the maintenance of vaccines as well as keep the vaccines for eight days without power,’ said Barorot.

He noted that the fridges will be delivered to 51 health faciliti
es identified across the six sub-counties and this equipment will replace old and faulty ones currently in our facilities as well as start-up immunization activities in our newly established facilities.

‘We have 138 Government of Kenya (GOK) immunizing health facilities and 78 Private Immunizing facilities (FBO) and this indicates that as a county the accessibility to required services is good,’ he noted.

‘Uasin Gishu County has a Catchment population of 41000 Children under age one and currently in January we are at 85% immunization coverage as compared to the required 90% target and cumulatively we are at 88% average for the past 12 months as a county,’ he said.

Barorot further noted that there is a need for additional fridges to ensure that as a county we hit the target and even surpass it because a healthy child is a healthy future.

‘With the help from our 2,005 Community Health Promoters well distributed at the county to attend to every household they will ensure that all our children are vaccinated,
‘ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency