UNICEF’s solar-powered cold chain protects children in Wau

2026-03-12 - 08:48

Vaccines used to protect children and pregnant women from life-threatening diseases are being safely stored and distributed in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal through an improved vaccine cold chain system supported by solar power. Thanks to UNICEF that supports Ministry of Heath and other health partners in the provision of immunization services in South Sudan (Vaccines and Cold chain Systems). At midyear (2024) immunization coverage In Greater Bahr El Ghazal (GBeG) region stands at 84% for Penta 3 and 67% for Measles vaccination (DHIS 2, 2024) The increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere contribute to global warming, which is one of the biggest environmental problems Health officials say the vaccine cold chain ensures that vaccines remain at the required temperature from the time they leave the manufacturer until they reach communities across Western Bahr el Ghazal State. James Philip Bazia, the Cold Chain Officer with the Expanded Programme on Immunization in Wau, says maintaining proper temperature and handling procedures throughout the supply chain is essential for vaccine safety. Bazia says the cold chain system begins at the factory where vaccines are produced and continues through national and local distribution points before reaching communities. “The system starts from the factory and follows the same cold chain process until it reaches the state. From the state it goes to the payams, and from the payams to the bomas until it finally reaches the children or pregnant women who need the vaccines,” he said. He says the same storage standards and equipment are maintained throughout the distribution chain to keep vaccines safe. “The storage buildings and equipment are maintained in the same order throughout the chain so that people do not have to worry. The vaccines are safe and the immunization services are provided free of charge,” Bazia said. Over the past two years, vaccine storage facilities in Wau have been upgraded with solar-powered electricity to support cold chain equipment. Bazia says the solar power system helps maintain the required temperatures even during electricity shortages. “Now the electricity used is renewable solar power. It has been available for about two years, and it helps keep the vaccines safe even when there is no regular electricity,” he said. However, he says vaccination teams still face logistical challenges during immunization campaigns, especially when supplies are limited. “Sometimes during campaigns we do not have enough supplies, so we have to organize the teams working in the field carefully to ensure communities still receive the vaccines they need,” he said. Health partners supporting immunization services say the use of solar energy has improved the reliability of vaccine storage and reduced operational costs. Bol Akot, a Health Specialist with UNICEF supporting the Expanded Programme on Immunization across Greater Bahr el Ghazal, says the solarization of cold chain systems has significantly improved vaccine storage and distribution. He says the region previously depended on fuel-powered generators to maintain the cold chain. “Last year, for the whole of Greater Bahr el Ghazal—not only for Wau—we were spending about 1.2 million U.S. dollars a year. And now we’re spending less than 200,000 dollars a year,” Akot said. The solar system includes lithium batteries and control units installed at the state cold chain hub, allowing vaccines to remain at the required temperature even when sunlight is limited. Akot says the system also supports vaccine distribution to counties including Wau, Jur River and Raja, where smaller solar units have been installed. Before the transition, the cold chain system used about 4,500 liters of fuel every month to run generators across the state. “Two years now we have transitioned from providing fuel and using generators to support the cold chain equipment. Now we are using solar energy to power the cold chain equipment,” he said. He says the shift to solar power has reduced annual fuel consumption from more than 50,000 liters to less than 10,000 liters. Health officials say the system still faces challenges during the rainy season when cloudy weather reduces solar energy production. During such periods, backup generators are sometimes used to maintain vaccine storage temperatures. Despite these challenges, health authorities say the strengthened cold chain system is helping ensure that vaccines continue to reach children and pregnant women in communities across Western Bahr el Ghazal.