LOGIVAC

The Health Logistics Challenge

Effective health logistics and vaccine management are necessary to effectively deliver life-saving immunization services. However, the logistics systems in many developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, suffer from weak infrastructure, inadequate essential services (e.g., transportation and information technology), and a shortage of skilled human resources. This contributes to vaccine management issues including wasted vaccine doses and supply shortages, leading to missed opportunities for vaccinating children.

Higher Stakes for Immunization

As new, more expensive vaccines become available, the stakes are even higher for health logistics. Adding more vaccines to routine immunization schedules requires the enhancement of supply chain management and operations. Supply chain management professionals (or "health logisticians") need to be trained to ensure proper vaccine storage and transportation, guaranteeing systematic and timely vaccine delivery, and maintaining the cold chain, which keeps the vaccines at controlled temperatures.

LOGIVAC for Better Health Logistics

In this context, AMP and the World Health Organization (WHO) have developed a unique project, called "LOGIVAC," to set up two regional reference centers in sub-Saharan Africa to train and certify supply chain managers. Established in 2011, LOGIVAC is a three-year project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

For more information, see the LOGIVAC website