By Nnedinma Okeke
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); a supporting Partner of immunization services, vaccines security/logistics and other health interventions in Anambra State has on May 5, 2026 paid an advocacy visit to the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr. Obianuju Chinelo Okoye.
The visit was geared toward informing and enlightening the Executive Secretary while briefing her on the current situation of the State Walk-In Cold Room at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku where vaccines were being stored, and the power issues/challenges it experiences.
It was also used to discuss about immunization services, its challenges and way forward.
Dr Okoye responding in her remarks, noted that the Agency together with its Mother Ministry; the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and Partners would meet and deliberate on ways forward in order to bring to a lasting end the issues and challenges at the State Cold Chain as listed by the team.
She thanked UNICEF for their continued support to the State and assured that necessary actions would be taken to ensure continuous safety of vaccines at the State level as these would also ensure the vaccines gets to the end users while its still potent.
The UNICEF team members, Mr Stanley Osum- UNICEF Vaccine Security and Logistics (VSL) Consultant and Mr Victor James- UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change (SBC) Consultant, both congratulated the Executive Secretary on her appointment as ES ASPHCDA.
They expressed gratitude for her assurances while emphasizing on the importance of a lasting solution to tackling issues surrounding the State Cold Chain.
The State Immunization Officer, Mrs Edith Onwuka briefing the Executive Secretary on upcoming programmes as regards to Routine Immunization (RI) intensification, noted that there was need for interventions as regards to the Cold Chain issues so as to ensure safety of vaccines at all times.
The visit featured UNICEF presentation of visibility jackets to ASPHCDA in furtherance support of the state officers; to aid for identification and supervisory activities.
Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
