Srinagar
Department of Health and Medical Education is mulling to collaborate with UNDP for implementation of Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network Logistics system (eVIN) for robust vaccine coverage across the state.
In this regard, a marathon meeting was held under the chairmanship of Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo here.
Commenting on the development, Atal Dulloo said that it is a major step for bringing positive changes on the ground in vaccine coverage. He said that for having effective immunization, the government was taking several measures—hoping that collaboration with UNDP would help to bring some positive developments in vaccine coverage across the State.
The UNDP team made a brief presentation on the proposed activities and timeline for eVIN roll out in Jammu & Kashmir.
The representatives further shared the number of Human Resources at state, divisional and district level—saying that the eVIN provides an integrated solution to address widespread inequities in vaccine coverage by supporting state governments in overcoming constraints of infrastructure, monitoring and management information systems and human resources, often resulting in overstocking and stock-outs of vaccines in storage centres.
Through the eVIN Project, there will be tech-based capacity building and training of over 1400 Government Staff, distribution of approximately 700 mobiles phones and installation of approximately 800 remote temperature data loggers.
The meeting was informed that UNDP would support the project for two years until September 2021. The expenditure would be borne by the NHM following the conclusion of UNDP support from Oct 2021.
Pertinently, the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network- eVIN is an innovative technological solution aimed at strengthening immunization supply chain systems in India. Implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with support from the United Nations Development Programme, eVIN aims to support the Government of India’s Universal Immunization Programme by providing real-time information on vaccine stocks and flows, and storage temperatures across all cold chain points in Jammu and Kashmir.
It may be recalled here that under Global vaccination coverage – the proportion of the world’s children who receive recommended vaccines – has remained the same over the past few years. During 2018, about 86 per cent of infants worldwide (116.3 million infants) received 3 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccine, protecting them against infectious diseases that can cause serious illness and disability or be fatal. By 2018, 129 countries had reached at least 90 per cent coverage of DTP3 vaccine.
Beginning in October 2015, eVIN has been successfully rolled out in 21 States and Union Territories in India covering over 20,000 health facility. The mobile- and web-based application is supporting efficient vaccine logistics management at over 20,000 cold chain points in the country.
The meeting was attended by Bhupendra Kumar, Mission Director, NHM, Dr Arun Sharma, Director Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization, Dr Qazi Haroon, SEPIO, and Dr Shachi Adyanthaya, National Programme Manager-Systems Strengthening, UNDP India Country Office.
