Vodacom Media Launch
07 April 2022
Vodacom Western Cape palms over 257 new chilly chain items valued at R3.6 million to Western Cape Provincial Authorities to spice up vaccine storage and distribution
CAPE TOWN: To help the drive for efficient COVID-19 vaccinations in South Africa, Vodacom and the Western Cape Division of Well being are happy to announce the distribution of 257 new chilly chain items, value R3.6 million, throughout the province. The gear permits the Western Cape Division of Well being to spice up COVID-19 vaccine storage and distribution, significantly to extra distant areas, whereas sustaining vaccine efficacy. The handover came about right now at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape City with Western Cape Premier Alan Winde in attendance.
This comes after Vodacom Group and Vodafone Basis donated R74 million within the procurement of chilly chain gear, making certain the secure supply and administration of COVID-19 vaccines and different life-saving medication, to a number of nations in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa has obtained 2 197 items of this important gear within the battle in opposition to the pandemic. The items will get distributed throughout all 9 provinces.
The 257 chilly chain items donated to the Western Cape Province include six vaccine freezers, 40 ice-lined vaccine fridges, 80 cooler containers, 125 digital temperature loggers, two distant temperature gadgets and 4 distant probes. The gear is being distributed to 51 websites throughout all six districts of the province: Cape City Metro Municipality, Cape Winelands District Municipality, Central Karoo District Municipality, Backyard Route District Municipality, Overberg District Municipality and West Coast District Municipality.
“As we proceed to associate with the federal government in response to COVID-19, Vodacom needs to help all South Africans in overcoming the challenges of the disaster. By way of the funding and distribution of cold-chain gear all through the Western Cape, we’re making certain residents have higher entry to securely saved vaccines. This can be a essential step in direction of constructing an inclusive post-pandemic future,” says Carol Corridor, Managing Govt, Vodacom Western Cape.
The Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, mentioned: “I need to commend Vodacom for his or her vital and beneficiant donation of latest chilly chain items all through the province, making certain that extra individuals get entry to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. As we exit the Nationwide State of Catastrophe and Catastrophe Laws come to an finish, every of us must assume higher private accountability. We are able to do that by practising the golden guidelines of excellent hygiene. We also needs to defend these prone to extreme illness, by appearing responsibly. Getting vaccinated can also be the appropriate option to make in order that we save lives and jobs.”
Chilly-chain administration is a vital a part of making certain a secure and efficient inoculation drive. Vaccines require uninterrupted refrigeration which meet sure temperature necessities, from the place of producing till the purpose of administration. If the cold-chain is damaged at any level from arrival to administration, this will have an effect on the effectiveness and efficacy of vaccines, which suggests they change into doubtlessly unsafe for immunisation.
Vaccine storage is a problem for varied nations on the African continent. A current survey of 34 African nations by the African regional workplace of the World Well being Group (WHO) revealed that, in 31% of nations, greater than 50% of districts have challenges with cold-chain capability.
“The distribution of chilly chain gear helps the nationwide vaccination programme in making certain susceptible and hard-to-reach communities within the Western Cape area have entry to secure vaccines. Furthermore, the gear can even help authorities past the COVID-19 pandemic, with the storage and distribution of different life-saving medication. This helps Vodacom’s social contract to assist higher the lives of individuals by know-how,” provides Corridor.