Logistics holds key to better health care

For lovers of a traditional British “cuppa”, one of the biggest eye-openers in Mozambique is the absence of fresh milk in the shops and supermarkets. There is no cold chain to support the fresh milk industry – with the result that there are no dairy herds in the country. Instead, powdered milk is one of the bigger imports. The absence of reliable cold chain logistics support has far wider implications than having to use condensed milk in your coffee. It has a direct impact on the health of the people, as many vaccines lose their efficacy if they are not kept cool during transport or in storage. Vaccines must typically be kept between 2-8°C. An award-winning solution developed by VillageReach, an international non-governmental organisation (ngo), is improving the cold chain. VillageReach has supported the Mozambique Ministry of Health in a large-scale programme covering four provinces with a population of approximately 13 million since 2010. The ngo’s Dedicated Logistics System (DLS) programme features a dedicated, integrated, distribution system, whereby a small number of specialised workers visit each health centre monthly to deliver vaccines and supplies, repair equipment, facilitate an information system to collect and report data, and provide supportive supervision. Mozambican field officer Margarida Matsinhe has received the second Gates Vaccine Innovation Award in recognition of the work being done by VillageReach. “Margarida Matsinhe has been instrumental in overhauling the vaccine logistics system by removing obstacles that prevent kids from getting life-saving vaccines,” says Bill Gates in his annual letter. As a result of Matsinhe and VillageReach’s work, the monthly incidence of vaccine stockouts in rural health centres decreased from 80% to 1%; the amount of time the cold chain is working increased from 40% to 96%; and the percentage of children receiving basic vaccines increased from 69% to 95%. INSERT 95% of children receiving vaccines INSERT & CAPTION Margarida Matsinhe has been instrumental in overhauling the vaccine logistics system by removing obstacles that prevent kids from getting life-saving vaccines. – Bill Gates