Africa-Press – Eswatini. Cooler boxes in public transport are often associated with booze but next time you see this, it could be a medical officer transporting medical drugs.
This is because children’s immunisation vaccines and antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are being transported in public transport by hospital personnel from various health facilities. In the northern Hhohho, Pigg’s Peak Hospital serves as a crucial hub for the Central Medical Stores (CMS), where vital drugs are stored and subsequently distributed to various healthcare facilities within the sub-region. CMS is responsible for the supply chain management of all health commodities, including medicines in the public sector. Its objective is to ensure a regular uninterrupted equitable supply of quality medicines and medical supplies to the health facilities, so that emaSwati can access these drugs. The transportation of these drugs is typically facilitated by designated vehicles, ensuring their timely delivery to health centres and clinics.
About three weeks ago, a vehicle designated for the transportation of ARVs and children’s vaccines experienced a fault that resulted in the vehicle burning. While en route, the vehicle suffered a mechanical fault leading to a devastating explosion. The incident occurred near Ntfonjeni, endangering the driver, who got trapped as the seat belt locked, leaving him at the mercy of the flames. Luckily, no one was injured in the vehicle. This publication has gathered information from personnel at various health facilities in the sub-region, confirming that the burnt vehicle was indeed the one responsible for transporting the aforementioned drugs to the other healthcare facilities. A different vehicle was being used to transport other drugs and also for outreach programmes.
The mechanical fault induced burning of the vehicle has prompted health facilities to seek alternative means of transportation to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medications. Unlike other medication where patients can travel to Pigg’s Peak on their own, this is not the case with ARVs or vaccines. Patients, particularly those on ARVs have to use the clinics in their areas. It is for this reason, according to medical personnel, that it was imperative for the Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital to have a designated vehicle, which could be used to deliver the drugs. Some health facilities, such as Mkhuzweni and Dvokolwako health centers, are said to be fortunate enough to secure alternative transport options, enabling them to receive their drug supplies according to some health personnel.
However, other facilities, including Ngowane, Bulandzeni, Ndzingeni and Maguga Clinic, have been compelled to rely on public transport as their solution for now. A medical officer, highlighting the challenges associated with public transport, emphasised that these drugs were not intended to be transported using such means as they were fragile and needed properly monitored temperatures. The official expressed concern that the integrity of the drugs could be compromised, particularly for locations situated far from the central distribution point, such as Ngowane Clinic. The official said the challenge of using public transport was that it took long to reach some areas such as Ngowane and this could affect the ice used to keep the drugs at the required temperature. “This can damage the drugs,” stated the official.
Meanwhile, the lack of a vehicle to transport the drugs is said to have resulted in delayed service. Some of the medical personnel said they were also concerned that the drugs may be affected and not be effective due to the mode of transportation. They said this was because the normal transport that was used was a van, which had enough space to transport as many of the drugs as needed to the various health facilities and that it was designed to stay cooler for longer. Also, they said unlike public transport, a designated vehicle did not make stops along the way other than the planned destinations.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
