Cold chain and logistics taskforce focuses on interagency cooperation

Cold chain and logistics taskforce focuses on interagency cooperationby Osman David Mansoor, UNICEF Programme Division, and Ibrahim El-Ziq, UNICEF Supply Division In November 2009, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) hosted a workshop of the Cold Chain and Logistics (CCL) Taskforce. The purpose of the workshop was to reach consensus on the approach and key actions needed to support the strengthening and expansion of CCL systems needed for new vaccine introduction. However, the work is needed not just for new vaccine introduction, but to support the routine needs of every national immunization program. Workshop participants worked in small groups to identify the main challenges for CCL systems and propose short-term actions to address them. The challenges included the need to assess a country’s readiness for new vaccines, to share monitoring data across agencies for a more comprehensive picture of supply chain strengths and needs, to integrate vaccine and other health-related supply chain systems, and to advocate for resources toward solving CCL problems. The CCL Taskforce created four interagency subgroups to address these challenges directly: (1) guidance, (2) monitoring, (3) advocacy, and (4) integration. With participation from the agencies and organizations working in vaccine supply chain and logistics, such as the World Health Organization and PATH (including Optimize); the GAVI Alliance; UNICEF Supply Division; and John Snow, Inc., the taskforce hopes to overcome challenges and achieve synergies that have not existed before. The taskforce listed specific outcomes it expects to achieve through its coordinating efforts: Adequate number of vaccines are available for every immunization session. Vaccine wastage is minimized without affecting coverage. Vaccines are stored and transported without temperature damage. New vaccine introduction is not constrained by lack of storage/transport capacity. Coordination is greatly increased with a commitment towards effective integration with procurement and management of other priority health commodities.The taskforce also mapped out activities for each subgroup. For example, in order to have an overview of the environment, the guidance subgroup will map out all existing cold chain logistics and vaccine management guidelines and tools, all partners and their roles, and potential bottlenecks along the supply chain not limited to cold chain and logistics. The advocacy group will use existing vaccine and the Expanded Programme on Immunization network and communication channels to ensure that cold chain and logistics are incorporated in each element of immunization planning and execution. Countries, donors, and other stakeholders will thus gain a wider understanding of the importance and need to ensure an efficient cold chain and logistic system. Progress toward these and other objectives will be posted on the CCL website where readers can also obtain the full workshop report. Subscribers who wish to join a subgroup or provide input should contact Kate Bai [[email protected]][email protected][/email].