Addis Ababa, December 24 (WIC) – USAID’s supply Chain Management System (SCMS) project today donated 8 million USD in equipment, funded through the U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), to the Federal Ministry of Health’s Pharmaceutical Fund and Supply Agency (PESA).

According to a press release USAID sent to WIC, the equipment will help to strengthen public sector capacity to safely and efficiently distribute products for all health care programs, including HIV/AIDS, and will support the Ministry in implementing the National Pharmaceutical Logistics Master Plan. 

   The donation consisted of 29 delivery vehicles, seven generators, ten lift trucks, 150 refrigerators, nine deep freezers, 100 cold boxes, a cold room of 824 cubic meters and 40 temperature loggers.  

The donation also included 5,400 pallet racks, and 1,320 adjustable shelves to be used in six existing warehouses, and six temporary warehouses leased through REPFAR/USAID.  

PFSA will use the vehicles to deliver drugs and commodities to hospitals and health centers, ensuring uninterrupted supply of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, reproductive health and other essential program commodities.

The racking, shelving and other material handling equipment will greatly increase the warehouses’ operational capacity and the efficiency of PFSA across the country.

  USAID has leased additional warehouse spaces for the PFSA to address the scale-up needs of HIV/AIDS and other health programs, including locations in Addis Ababa, Adama, Bahir Dar, Mekelle and Nekemte.    

The ceremony was attended by the Federal Minister of Health Dr Tewdros Adhanom, the USAID/Ethiopia Deputy Mission Director Nancy Estes, PFSA Director General Hailesilase Bihon, and the country representative of MSH Ethiopia Dr. Negussu Mekonnen.