Health Ministry Receives Refrigerated Trucks to Tackle Vaccine Storage Challenges

(JUBA) – The Ministry of Health in South Sudan has received four refrigerated vehicles from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF South Sudan, in a joint effort to improve vaccine delivery and strengthen the national cold chain system.

The vehicles were officially handed over at the Ministry’s headquarters in Juba on Wednesday morning.

The donation is expected to improve the safe and timely transportation of vaccines and medical supplies, especially to areas where infrastructure is weak and access to healthcare is limited. The refrigerated trucks will mainly serve vulnerable groups, including children and women, by supporting routine immunisation programmes.

The four vehicles will be allocated to five states across the country namely Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes State, Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria and Central Equatoria (Juba). These regions were selected based on logistical needs and gaps in vaccine storage and transportation.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Hon. Sarah Cleto Rial, Minister of Health, thanked UNICEF and GAVI for their continued support to the people of South Sudan. She emphasised the need to use the donated vehicles for their intended purpose and called for proper maintenance to ensure their longevity.

“As a ministry and as the people of South Sudan, it is imperative that we use these vehicles responsibly for their intended purpose. We will ensure proper care for the vehicles,” said Hon. Sarah.

She further appealed to international partners to extend similar support to other states and administrative areas that are still struggling with vaccine access. The goal, she said, is to reach every community and save more lives.

The new vehicles are expected to support expanded immunisation campaigns, including the delivery of vaccines against measles, polio and other preventable diseases. With temperatures in South Sudan often exceeding 40°C, maintaining cold storage is essential for vaccine safety and effectiveness.

UNICEF and GAVI officials noted that this donation is part of a broader effort to strengthen South Sudan’s healthcare infrastructure and help the country meet its immunisation targets. Cold chain logistics, the safe storage and transport of vaccines within required temperature ranges, is one of the critical components of any national immunisation strategy.

Below is an overview of the current allocation plan for the refrigerated vehicles:

State	Capital	Primary Use
Northern Bahr el Ghazal	Aweil	Routine immunisation, outreach
Lakes State	Rumbek	Vaccine delivery to remote areas
Eastern Equatoria	Torit	Maternal and child health services
Western Equatoria	Yambio	Health centre vaccine distribution
Central Equatoria	Juba	Urban cold chain storage support

Healthcare professionals across South Sudan have welcomed the move, saying it will help reduce vaccine stockouts and wastage, improve immunisation coverage and contribute to overall child survival and public health resilience.

South Sudan continues to face multiple health challenges, including disease outbreaks, weak infrastructure and access barriers in rural and conflict affected areas. Strengthening the cold chain system is considered a critical step towards improving service delivery.