PESHAWAR: Out-of-order solar panels in some of the Fata-based health facilities have been affecting efficacy of vaccines, which need to be preserved under certain temperature, sources said.

They said that the government in collaboration with donor agencies, including USAID, had installed the solar panels during past three years to be able to maintain the cold chain for vaccines as part of the programme to strengthen the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). They said that it was one-time activity aimed to support the government’s efforts to expand and improve immunisation in all tribal areas at the fixed centres.

The sources said that of the 200 EPI centres solarised with donors’ assistance in Fata, 55 had gone into disuse due to fault in the system which required technical experts. Solar panels were the only source of power supply to maintain efficacy of vaccines at the centres.

With 506 vaccinators presently Fata intends to recruit 350 more in the near future to be able to reach one million target children, mainly below one year of age, the sources said. They said that power outages were major obstacle to maintain cold chain in Fata which rendered the vaccines ineffective. Constant power supply to all 238 centres was important.

200 EPI centres solarised with donors’ assistance in last three years

Solar panels provided smooth power to refrigerators at the centre visited by mothers and parents for vaccination of their children at the government’s health facilities. “We have informed the high-ups about the non-functioning solar panels and the problems the patients are facing due to faulty cold chain for vaccines,” said a source in one of the tribal agencies.

Sources said that outbreaks of diphtheria and measles and whopping cough in Fata had prompted the authorities to replace polio-specific vaccination to general immunisation for nine vaccine-preventable childhood diseases.

They said that the installation of solar system had benefited children who received quality vaccines preserved in an area which remained without electricity. They said that list of centres where faults at the solar panels affected immunisation had been sent to the government to request the donor countries for repair work.

People generally don’t pay their electricity bills in Fata due to which cold chain couldn’t be maintained and the matter was brought into the notice of the concerned people to reach those who financed the costly system for repair.

The sources said that the donor agencies should arrange for repair and maintenance of the solar system and in future there should be proper planning for upkeep of solar panels to ensure power flow to the refrigerators at the EPI centres.

Epidemics of diphtheria, measles and whopping cough have been reported from Fata for which vaccination is carried out, the sources said.

Director health Dr Jawad Habib Khan said that the solar system played a key role in making the EPI centres effective. He said that they were in the process to make it operational. He said that vaccination centres which remained closed for the past few years had been reopened.

“Due to improvement in the law and order and vaccination, we are reaching the target population and only two polio cases have been recorded in 2016 compared to 16 and 179 in 2015 and 2014, respectively,” Dr Khan said.

He said that new EPI centers with cold chain equipment would be opened at feasible areas as part of enhancement programme to give valid vaccines to the children.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2016