From November 4-15, 2024, the EAC RCE-VIHSCM successfully delivered its first overseas regional Cold Chain Equipment Management (CCEM) training for Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in collaboration with UNICEF Fiji and Fiji National University (FNU).
The ten-day workshop was hosted at the College of Engineering and Technical Vocational Education and Training (CETVET)-FNU, where 33 participants, including logisticians, technicians, and biomedical engineers from Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, and Vanuatu attended.
The CCEM and Remote Temperature Management (RTM) training aimed to enhance expertise in managing cold chain equipment, focusing on the efficient storage, transportation, and handling of temperature-sensitive vaccines. Participants were equipped with in-depth knowledge of Cold Chain Equipment management, supporting the integrity and reliability of the cold chain system.
This initiative stemmed from the findings of the Effective Vaccine Management Assessment (EVMA) conducted across 11 PICs in 2023/24, which highlighted significant gaps in vaccine management practices that need to be addressed.
The program, which included theoretical sessions, practical hands-on training, and an on-site field visit to a vaccine store warehouse, was highly appreciated by participants, who expressed a strong desire for more of such training in the future to improve the cold chain management practices in Pacific Island.
The success of this workshop not only marks a key step in strengthening cold chain management across the Pacific region but also highlights the importance of collaboration for the EAC RCE-VIHSCM in supporting talent development for vaccine management in the region and beyond.
