Nigeria and UNICEF Launch $406K Vaccine Cold Chain Store

On Friday, the Nigerian Federal Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, unveiled a $406,000 cold chain store for vaccines in Maiduguri, Borno State. The facility was reconstructed following the destruction caused by floods in September 2024, which had severely impacted vaccine infrastructure.

Muhammad Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized that the new facility is larger, better equipped, and features solar power, enhancing its resilience against future flooding. The project, funded by the Government of Germany and Canada, aims to restore and improve immunization services across Borno State, which serves approximately 7.5 million people.

UNICEF's Franci Bitchi noted that nearly one million vaccine doses were lost due to previous cold chain equipment failures. The cold chain store will support immunization efforts in 27 local government areas and is part of a broader strategy to reduce zero-dose children and strengthen health services in hard-to-reach areas.