Dulas refrigerators extending access to healthcare across Angola
Dulas refrigerators extending access to healthcare across Angola
Our vaccine refrigerators have been rolled out to health centres across 14 provinces in Angola. This forms part of a USAID-funded project to extend access to healthcare across the country. In total, 280 Dulas VC150SDD vaccine refrigerators were procured by an international NGO for this project. Our in-country partner managed transportation, warehousing and installation, as well as providing training to end users.
Universal access to health services
In the last five years, Angola has made significant progress in improving access to health services. Focus has been on increasing the health workforce by around 35%, increasing infrastructure with the construction of 85 modern health facilities, and strengthening its capacity to respond to public health emergencies. However, the country continues to face challenges in implementing routine vaccination coverage, and it experiences high levels of malaria, diarrheal diseases, pneumonia, acute malnutrition, tuberculosis, and an increase in chronic non-communicable diseases.
“In recent years, we have focused on ensuring that our population has access to more quality health services, and we have achieved significant results. This progress, while a good reason to celebrate, should not be a reason to get complacent, because the road to achieving universal health coverage – particularly in Angola – is still long. We must continue to work together, urgently investing in the resilience of our health system to move towards achieving universal health coverage for all our citizens.”
Dr. Silvia Lutucuta – Minister of Health, Angola
Strengthening primary healthcare is key to ensuring that all Angolan people have access to essential health services. In rural areas, many travel significant distances to receive basic healthcare. Installing vaccine refrigerators in health centres across the country will increase access to life-saving vaccines. The VC150SDD uses solar direct drive technology to ensure a reliable power supply, whatever the weather, so that vaccines remain safe and effective. This particular model is a combined vaccine refrigerator and ice pack freezer, which is ideal for health centres conducting outreach programmes.
A health centre worker preparing ice packs for outreach vaccination
Health centre workers receiving training certificates
Training is essential
Our installation teams delivered in-person training at each health facility as a key part of the roll-out process. This is essential for the ongoing maintenance and operation of all cold chain equipment. At the outset, Dulas delivered training to our in-country partners at our UK headquarters. We focused on how to facilitate end-user training, as well as best practice information on operating the equipment. Training and user manuals are provided in Portuguese, the main working language of Angola, and certificates are given to trained staff.
Receiving delivery of solar panels for the SDD system
Unloading the refrigerator crate
Angola has made notable progress towards improving the health of its citizens, and we are pleased to see Dulas refrigerators playing a small part in extending access to primary health care across the country. Dulas vaccine refrigerators are used in remote communities throughout the world, making an enormous difference to the lives of the people living in those areas. WHO studies show that the benefits of access to healthcare are far-reaching, promoting economic growth and employment, particularly for women. We’re grateful to our partner for helping to implement this programme across the country.”
Catherine McLennan – Commercial Lead, Dulas Solar International
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