VACCINE COLD CHAIN MANAGEMENT PRACTICE: THE CASE OF PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES AT NORTH SHOA ZONE, AMAHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Introduction: Vaccines are the only essential commodities that required their own specific supply chain system with storage of 2 oC to 8 oC. It is critical that they should be kept at appropriate temperatures during transit and storage.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess vaccines’ cold chain management practice at public health facilities under North Shoa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.
Methods: descriptive research design with time dimension of cross-sectional study was used to assess the status of cold chain management practice at health facilities in North Shoa Zone Amhara Region, Ethiopia.
Results: 81.7% (n=49) out of 60 facilities monitored the cold chain in twice daily bases at the time of visit. Taking the last six month temperature monitoring status of the facilities, 51.7% (n=31) of the facilities had complete set of twice daily manual temperature monitoring chart. In 38.3% (n=23) of the facilities one or more refrigerators were non functional. All receipts and dispatches were recorded in 58.3% (n=35) of facilities. The vaccines were not packed with air circulating and appropriate gap between them in 38.4% (n=23) of the facilities.
Conclusion: Overall from the findings of the study, it can be conclude that there were vaccine cold chain management practice problems