The Cold-chain Management in storage and Transportation of vaccines in Eastern part of Nepal Baral Sagar*, Tamang Deewash Pakhrin, Maharjan Sajan, Humagain Baburam Central Institute of Science and Technology (CiST College), Affiliated to Pokhara University, Sangam Chowk, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal *Corresponding Author E-mail: maharjansajan02@gmail.com
Online published on 3 June, 2020. Abstract This study aims to observe the cold-chain management in storage and transportation of vaccines in eastern part of Nepal. It is a descriptive and qualitative study. It was conducted in Department of Health Service (DHS) store Teku, as central vaccine warehouse; Eastern Regional Medical Store, Biratnagar; three District Public Health Offices (DPHO) one from Mountain region (Sindhupalchowk), one from Hilly region (Bhaktapur) and one from Terai region (Jhapa) and two selected health posts under each DPHO and a hospital from Bhaktapur where vaccine storage facility was available. The national policy for effective vaccine management and the Standard Operating Procedure were formed but not all the health institutions had followed it properly. There were some lapses in the effective management of vaccines such as inadequate knowledge of health workers about shake test, lack of cold storage facility at the airport, freeze indicator during transportation, plan preventive maintenance, refrigerator vehicle at Regional Medicinal Store and Standard Operating Procedure at health post level. The overall management of cold-chain was found satisfactory. Top Keywords Vaccine, cold-chain management, transportation, storage, Nepal. Top |