Kohima, September 13: With focus on poverty reduction and to improve vaccination coverage in the State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised training on Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN)- an online real-time vaccine logistic management system across all the districts of Nagaland- on September 13 at Hotel Vivor.
The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Yankho Lotha, Mission Director NHM. Kingson Kamkara, SPO of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was the moderator.
Keynote speaker, Dr. Manish Pant made a brief introduction on eVIN and how it will help provide an integrated solution to address widespread inequities in vaccine coverage by supporting the State governments in overcoming constraints of infrastructure, monitoring and management. Stating that vaccines have a very short shelf life unlike medicines and temperature sensitive, he said they have to be stored in cold chains. He, therefore, said installation of eVIN will help the health centres to keep accurate track record of vaccines, adding it will provide an integrated solution to vaccine management combining technology, governance and human resources.
The training is being imparted to more than 250 government officials including vaccine store-keepers and cold chain handlers on the mobile and web based application. About 150 temperature loggers will be installed at over 130 vaccine stores and cold chain points in all 11 districts for accurate temperature review.On the problems regarding connectivity, Dr. Pant said there will be 24/7 full-time technical support available from the software team in Bangalore. According to him, real time date can be viewed on the application by programmes managers at district, state and national level and ensure adequate distribution of vaccines. He also said the district and state vaccine store will go live from tomorrow and data can be view real time.
The technological innovation is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with financial support from Gavi-The Vaccine Alliance. Standardised registers and mobile phone was officially handed over by Dr. Pant to the State Immunisation Officer Dr. Visasieü Kire. UNDP officially provided all the stock registers and mobile phones to all the cold chain handlers and cold chain points in Nagaland.
Giving brief report UIP scenario, Dr. Visasieü Kire stated that Nagaland ranked lowest (35.6%) among the 14 states which is below the average of 65.5% for full immunisation coverage in India. In Nagaland Wokha district ranked lowest with 13.5% and Mokokchung highest with coverage 60.9% according to DLHS IV report.
During interaction with media persons on the status of immunisation in Nagaland, Dr. Kire expressed apprehension citing the allocation of fund by the government. She mentioned that out of the 396 sub centres, 309 are hard to reach areas.
Dr. Yankho Lotha also expressed that for a state like Nagaland with difficult terrain alternative vaccine delivery system will be beneficial. He said timely procurement of vaccines when needed through this alternative system will help improve the immunisation rate of Nagaland.
