Residents of Samburu can breathe a sigh of relief after the Ministry of Health handed over a refrigerated land cruiser to boost immunisation coverage.
The vehicle aims to facilitate the transportation of vaccines and ensure the achievement of immunisation targets in the county.
The vehicle, which is equipped with a GPS tracking device and temperature monitoring, is specially designed for the transportation of vaccines.
The data collected from the GPS tracking and temperature monitoring devices will be useful for improving the model's application in other counties, ensuring that more Kenyans have access to life-saving vaccines.
Health CS Susan Wafula said Samburu currently receives its vaccines from Nakuru, which is hundreds of kilometres away.
With the new vehicle, the transportation of vaccines from the depot to the county will be faster and more efficient.
“The ministry is committed to supporting counties in improving their healthcare services, especially in far-reaching areas,” the CS said.
“The President's call to refocus healthcare on preventive and promotive measures, with immunization being a key component, aligns with the ministry's goals.”
The vehicle was handed over to Samburu Governor Jonathan Lati Leleliit and Woman Representative Pauline Lenguris.
Immunization is widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases, and the ministry is dedicated to expanding access to vaccines and strengthening immunization programs across the country.
Last week, the ministry expressed concern over the rising number of unvaccinated children in counties.
Wafula said despite Kenya making significant strides in the overall improvement in immunisation coverage, there are some counties which are lagging.
This has been attributed to critical challenges such as insecurity, and geographical and social barriers despite the effort by the county teams to reach the children with the life-saving vaccines.
The uptake of the vaccines further received a hit from the Covid-19 pandemic that saw thousands of children miss out on basic vaccines.
Globally, at least 23 million children missed out on basic vaccines through routine immunisation services in 2020 – 3.7 million more than in 2019.
Over the years, the national government in collaboration with counties and other partners has invested in immunisation in the form of cold chain equipment, capacity building of health workers, and service delivery strategies such as campaigns and outreaches.
So far, through support from Gavi, 37 counties have been provided with vehicles to support vaccine collection from our regional depots.
All counties have also been provided with a motorbike to support cold chain equipment repair and maintenance.
These initiatives have improved access and helped to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases.
