Assessment of effective vaccine management tools in fixed immunization sites at east darfur sudan- 2014

This was a descriptive cross-sectional facility based study, conducted in Northern state; the assessment was conducted during 2010. Total coverage of all working EPI fixed sites in the state in addition to all Localities vaccine store and state vaccine store were included. The data was collected for six months from official records, reports, and plans concerning the vaccine management, plus interviewing the main Health workers in these units. The study showed that there were only 23 fixed vaccination sites had working refrigerators out of 54 fixed vaccination sites in the state (most refrigerators installed from long time and it is an old model. The entire vaccine store manager give the correct storage temperature range for each of the vaccines on the schedule. 100% of the service sites and localities in addition to state center have adequate storage capacity including for mass campaigns. 56% of the service sites, 95% of localities and 71% of state level had good functioning refrigerators/ freezers and all of these were meet WHO specification. There was no an itemized equipment replacement and preventive maintenance plans in the service sites and locality level and it need updated, detailed at state level. 74% of the service sites, 100% of localities and state level had completed records and balances updated for all receipts and dispatches. 100% of localities and state level had established and followed vaccine receipt/distribution plans. The vaccine wastage had monitored at state and localities level, but there were 82% of the service sites had completed periodic immunization reports and forms that are used to monitor vaccine wastage. The study concluded that the cold chain functionality was very weak (42.6% from total No of refrigerators in the state). There were adequate storage capacity at all levels and its accommodate peak stock levels for all the vaccines specified in the national immunization schedule.