The Nigerian government has commenced the building of standard vaccine hub projects in 3 states of the federation, Abuja, Lagos and Kano for the storage and preservation of vaccines and other medical equipment needed for immunisation.
The 3-Hub project is an initiative led by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA that would accommodate needed vaccines through 2035.
The Nigerian Minister of Health. Dr Osagie Ehanire said “each of the hubs is centralised to serve two geopolitical locations and decentralised to timely response to increase vaccines demand.”
Dr Ehanire explained that in recognition of the need for resilience in the system, the country following detailed analysis decided on a system redesign which includes construction of three mega stores at the national level, deployment of optimised cold chain equipment at the health facilities, an efficient distribution system and the deployment of an electronic logistics management information system to provide visibility across the supply chain.
He said; “this ground-breaking ceremony is a significant milestone of the system redesign journey. GAVI’s support in funding of the construction of two of the three mega stores Abuja and Kano hubs is therefore much appreciated.”
The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib at the ground breaking ceremony explained that the hub would improve immunisation logistics network and vaccine storage capacity which amounts to 250 shipments per year.
Dr Shuaib said that the other hubs in Lagos and Kano would commence simultaneously with that of Abuja.
The Managing Director, Programmes GAVI, Thabani Maphosa said they have the opportunity, and it’s an opportunity that should be used not just for the short term, but must think long term because opportunity doesn’t come twice.
He said; “We need to make the best of it while it is here. And I think that my WHO colleague say, we are doubling the capacity of this hub. The most important question here is, will it carry all the new vaccines that will be coming through? Because we are not building for vaccines that are here today. But we are actually building to make sure that as we introduce more vaccines, and we increase the breadth of protection for the children of Nigeria we have a system that is resilient, and is efficient in building this hub today.”
Mr. Maphosa said the building may look like the cost is high, but it’s an investment that will pay back in many fold.
The Abuja and Kano Hubs are funded by the Global Alliance for Vaccine initiative, Gavi while the Lagos Hub is funded through World Bank.
