The HIV /Syphillis kits need to be stored in proper cold chain i.e. 2 to 8 degree centigrade to maintain efficacy. Although in different districts there are district vaccine store and WIC but these are the supplied cold room under the immunisation programme and as per the guideline of immunisation programme no other kits /drugs can be stored along with the immunisation vaccine.
Due to non availability of cold storage it is difficult on the part of the state to send kits in a huge and annual required quantity to the districts and only for 3 months these kits are being supplied which is creating stock out problems.
Keeping in view this storage issue OSACS has planned to set up dedicated cold room for storing the HIV/Syphillis kits at different regions so that one regional store can supply kit at least to few other adjacent districts. The sites were identified based on vulnerable total population, HIV /Syphillis load and easy transportation to other adjacent districts.
Total 7 WIC were planned to be procured with the global fund and NACO support. The districts identified for installing these cold rooms were Nawarangpur, Ganjam, Khurda, Bolangir, Sundergarh, Keonjhar & Balasore. Each regional store will be tagged with at least 4 to 5 districts.
Along with the HIV /Syphillis kits the other drugs and kits (excepting immunisation) can also be stored. So these WIC can be used for storing other kits also as it is quite huge in size i.e. 20X16 feet room size with 24 hour generator back up.
Nawarangpur is the first district in the state out of the 7 identified districts which has taken the initiative to complete all the works starting from the site selection to installation work with the involvement of the district administration and district health authorities and team all the works were completed within a short span of 15 days.
WIC room is inaugurated by the DM & Collector of the district and it is now ready for use and there will be no shortage of storage facilities for any cold chain requiring drugs and kits of the districts.
