TECHNET21 E-FORUM
Technical network for strengthening immunization services
Contributions to: mailto:[email protected] or use your reply button!
--------------------------------------
POST 00816E : IMMUNIZATION IN NIGERIA
Follow-up on Post 00810E
29 July 2005
_____________________________________
Anthony Battersby wants you to note that the report posted in Post 00810E
was the result of a collaborative effort of a four-person team. Steve
McCarney (mailto:[email protected]) from the United States adds some
specific comments.
_____________________________________
As a former industry supplier familiar with the Nigerian project I wish to
amplify some of the lessons to be learned from this project. Many of the
solar-powered vaccine refrigerators procured through Nigeria's National
Programme on Immunization (NPI) did not take advantage of international
procurement service and support. Instead, several layers of
distribution/supply was added at the national level by a variety of
resellers who may or may not have experience in medical equipment, solar or
refrigeration equipment. Costs were needlessly increased and, in some case,
quality sacrificed.
For example, the same solar refrigerator reported to cost $ 5000 through
NPI national procurement would have cost at least 20-25% less through
UNICEF's (Copenhagen) international procurement services. Furthermore, all
solar refrigerators would have met WHO standards and would have been
supplied by WHO/UNICEF Qualified Suppliers. During the NPI procurements
every reseller I spoke to told me that they were unfamiliar with WHO
standards. Fortunately, most resellers I spoke to wished to chose products
that complied with WHO standards. Unfortunately, some resellers did not and
went to other non-qualified suppliers to purchase products that did not
comply with WHO standards because of lower price. In particular, batteries
that meet WHO standards should have a two year shelf life before
commissioning. The report noted batteries that failed before commissioning
and within one year. These batteries may be some of the non-complying
products.
It is my view that strict adherence to WHO standards and the use of
UNICEF's international purchase support would have saved money,
standardized quality and resulted in significantly better installation success.
Steve McCarney
Global Gate - USA
______________________________________________________________________________
All members of the TechNet21 e-Forum are invited to send comments on any posting or to use the forum to raise a new discussion or request technical information in relation to immunization services.
The comments made in this forum are the sole responsibility of the writers and do not in any way mean that they are endorsed by any of the organizations and agencies to which the authors may belong.
______________________________________________________________________________
Visit the TECHNET21 Website at http://www.technet21.org
You will find instructions to subscribe, a direct access to archives, links to reference documents and other features.
______________________________________________________________________________
To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message to : mailto:[email protected]
Leave the subject area BLANK
In the message body, write unsubscribe TECHNET21E
______________________________________________________________________________
The World Health Organization and UNICEF support TechNet21. The TechNet21 e-Forum is a communication/information tool for generation of ideas on how to improve immunization services. It is moderated by Claude Letarte and is hosted in cooperation with the Centre de coopération internationale en santé et développement, Québec, Canada (http://www.ccisd.org)
______________________________________________________________________________
There are no replies made for this post yet.