To address challenges faced in the process flow of essential drugs and vaccines, the Natview Foundation for Technology and Innovation recently organized a focused group discussion with key health sector stakeholders in Kaduna State. The meeting brought together cold chain officers, LGA monitoring and evaluation officers, LGA drug officers, and essential drug officers from Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Chikun LGAs.
The discussion was part of an ongoing effort to understand trends noticed in the ongoing longitudinal study on stock management, forecasting, and reporting. The session aimed at dissecting the requisition-stock management to the reporting process, with a focus on identifying roles and responsibilities at various levels, including state, LGA, and facility levels. Discussions on stock level calculations, stock balance reporting, and data management practices were made to understand it better.
Key areas of focus included identifying who manages the requisition process at different levels, understanding how stock levels are calculated and reported, and examining the templates and tools used for reporting. The interactive discussion also identified gaps and challenges in data management and usage for stock management of both vaccines and essential drugs.
Dr. William Sambisa, Ph.D., Senior Measurement and Evaluation Officer of the Africa Strategy Team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), participated in the discussion to understand the trends and contribute insights to the deliberation.
The session is a critical step in ensuring more effective data usage and improved stock management across Kaduna State, particularly in the delivery of essential vaccines and drugs.
Written By Sim Emmanuel
