ISLAMABAD: In order to preserve polio vaccines in suitable temperature during electricity loadshedding, the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has decided to purchase solar-powered ice lined refrigerators (ILRs).

In first phase, Japan will provide 87 solar ILRs by first quarter of next year.

Moreover, the ministry is trying to get solar ILRs from China as well, sources said.

Increasing number of polio cases has not only brought embarrassment for the government but also drawn travel restrictions on Pakistanis. Now they are required to produce polio certificate at the airport before going abroad.

During electricity loadshedding, refrigerators stop working, and if polio vaccine is not preserved in suitable temperature it loses its efficacy. That was why the loadshedding is stated to be one of the reasons for increasing number of polio cases.

In first phase, Japan will provide 87 solar ILRs by first quarter of next year

An official of the ministry of NHS requesting not to be identified said that although polio vaccine can be stored for years at -20°C or for one year at -10°C but during polio campaigns vaccine is stored between 2°C to 8°C temperature.

Vaccine becomes ineffective if temperature crosses the prescribed limit.

“So temperature is maintained from the time of import of vaccine to finally administering it to a child and that process is called cold chain.

“Unfortunately because of loadshedding it becomes impossible to maintain the temperature for the vaccine. “We have received complaints about inefficacy of polio vaccines from Balochistan and Sindh,” he said.

“The solar ILRs will ensure preservation of vaccine in suitable temperature even during electricity loadshedding,” the ministry official said.

National Manager of Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr Rana Safdar while talking to Dawn confirmed that as many as 87 solar ILRs had been arranged from Japan and they would reach Pakistan before or just after start of next year.

Ministry of NHS is trying to get more solar ILRs to ensure cold chain for the vaccine, he added.

“In 2005 we got solar ILRs for AJK because earthquake had destroyed the electricity infrastructure there,” he said.

“It has been confirmed that batteries of solar ILRs would not stop working for at least five years. So we have started training staff in handling ILRs because they required optimal care. ILRs will be sent to Federally Administered Tribal Area, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Qilla Abdullah and Pishin in Balochistan where electricity loadshedding is acute,” he said.

“Ministry is trying to get more ILRs from China to use refrigerators at rural health centers,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2014