New cold-chain equipment worth ZAR3.6 million will be distributed across the Western Cape in an effort to support COVID-19 vaccinations in South Africa.

Focusing on rural areas, the local department of health will use the equipment to improve vaccine storage and distribution to maintain vaccine efficacy.

Together with local mobile operator Vodacom, the department acquired 257 units, including six vaccine freezers, 40 ice-lined vaccine fridges, 80 cooler boxes, 125 electronic temperature loggers, two remote temperature devices and four remote probes.

The collaboration follows a ZAR74 million contribution by Vodacom and the Vodafone Foundation to procure cold-chain equipment in sub-Saharan Africa earlier this year. South Africa as a whole received 2 197 units to be distributed in all nine provinces.

In the Western Cape, the units will be used in 51 sites across the province’s six districts: the Cape Town Metro, Cape Winelands, Central Karoo, Garden Route, Overberg and West Coast.

19 April 2022
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