Delta to Boost Immunization Programme, Rural Healthcare with Koolboks Freezers

By Omon-Julius Onabu

Delta State Government has struck a partnership agreement with refrigeration manufacturing and healthcare support services company, Koolboks Limited, which has deployed solar-powered vaccine freezers to at least 15 healthcare facilities across the state to boost its immunization programme through safe storage of vaccines especially in the rural areas hitherto bugged by poor energy sources.

The Customer Relationship Manager of Koolboks, Lolade E. Alonge, who stood in for the CEO and Co-founder of the company, Dr Dominic Ayoola, gave the assurance after signing the legal document sealing the partnership with the Delta State Government in Asaba.

The specialized freezers not only have the capacity for ensuring real-time standard temperature stability for vaccines but also power vital sections of the health facilities as well as monitoring of the cooling equipment.

The initiative is expected to boost the state Maternal and Under-Five Children Healthcare Scheme, for which the state government pays the premium under the State Contributory Health Insurance Programme.

“Moreover, with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, you will agree with me that everybody needs to be vaccinated be they urban or rural dwellers”, Alonge said, adding, “So, we are deploying freezers that can store vaccines even without electricity and monitor temperature automatically on a day-to-day basis.

“We are happy to sign this partnership with the Delta State Government. This is important in meeting the SDGs, in terms of being able to provide renewable energy to people and also provide access to cooling facilities to the people everywhere, especially considering the fact that poor electricity supply has remained a major challenge not just in Delta State but in Nigeria as a whole.

“When it comes to vaccination, it is important that a freezer is accessible to keep the vaccine in the right temperature; that is why Koolboks has offered a niche solution that allows health facilities to have access to refrigeration with or without electricity; and it can be remotely monitored from anywhere.”

On his part, the Director-General of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), Dr Ben Nkechika, said that the state was delighted to partner Koolboks in the provision of healthcare support services especially in rural and difficult-to-reach communities.

He disclosed that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had been so worried because the state was constrained in meeting the mandates and benchmark of the National Immunization Programme vis-a-vis the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, that he met with and gave the DSCHC and other healthcare providers the marching order to scale-up the immunization status of the state.

He said that the initiative was inspired by concept proof provided by the firm during over six months pilot scheme at the Obior health facility in the Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, “which was effective”.

According to the DSCHC’s director-general, Delta had been faced with challenge of vaccine and test sample storage especially in the rural areas until it learnt of the novel services offered by KOOLBOKS.

“After the successful pilot at the Obior facility, which lasted for more than six months, Koolboks deployed freezers to 15 more facilities.

“They will be responsible for the management, monitoring and maintenance of the freezers. The freezers not only keep vaccines cool, they are also capable of powering a section of the facility with electricity while Koolboks will monitor and troubleshoot the deployed refrigerators”, Dr Nkechika said.