Dulas supports India’s National Cold Chain Resource Centre

Project Overview

In a critical effort to secure India’s vaccine infrastructure, Dulas partnered with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, and UNICEF’s in-country office to provide specialised cold chain support. The initiative centred on an intensive Solar Direct Drive (SDD) Refrigerator Installation & Maintenance Training program for state cold chain technicians. Held at the prestigious National Cold Chain Resource Centre (NCCRC) in Pune, this training was vital for maintaining the performance of previously supplied Dulas cold chain equipment, ensuring long-term reliability for public health.

Impact

To ensure the long-term effectiveness of India’s immunisation programs, Dulas deployed a targeted training program for state cold chain technicians. The initiative was a collaborative effort, utilizing the resources of the National Cold Chain Resource Centre (NCCRC) in Pune, Maharashtra, a joint facility backed by the Government of India, Government of Maharashtra, and UNICEF.

The core of the training focused on the practical installation and maintenance of Dulas’s combined SDD refrigerator and freezer systems, utilizing the same VC150SDD demonstration unit previously supplied in 2021/22. Supervised by in-country partner SunInTown and led by facilitator Sheshnag Chitlur, the program consisted of five two-day sessions. A total of approximately 100 technicians, representing all 117 districts where Dulas systems have been deployed, attended these sessions, blending desk-based theory with essential hands-on practice.

Key Benefits

The benefit of this training was the empowerment of local expertise to safeguard India’s cold chain network. By training MoHFW state technicians and officials, Dulas successfully transferred the critical knowledge necessary for the routine maintenance and long-term support of its refrigeration systems.

This commitment goes beyond equipment delivery; it ensures operational independence for local teams, securing the flow of vital vaccines to often-vulnerable remote communities. The initiative reinforces Dulas’s deep partnership with the NCCRC and the MoHFW, ensuring the reliable performance and sustained durability of its robust cold chain products well into the future.