New logistics training wants to bring safer vaccination to Angolan communities.
National and provincial technicians receive intensive training to correct failures in the conservation of doses and increase vaccination coverage rates in the country.
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The Ministry of Health (MINSA), with the support of UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), held in Luanda, from June 1 to 12, 2026, an intensive training in cold chain management and vaccines for forty logistics professionals, with the aim of strengthening the national immunization system and ensuring the safety of vaccines in communities.
The training brought together forty logistics professionals, including provincial and national logisticians and municipal representatives, selected according to their leadership potential.
The training integrated theoretical components and practical immersions, covering notions about WHO international quality standards and temperature management, as well as field visits to the national warehouse and health facilities. The main goal was to establish a cohesive group of trainers capable of replicating this model of training, in chain, in the various municipalities of the Angolan provinces.
The training session, carried out by the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and WHO, will have a direct and real impact on Angolan communities, by ensuring that vaccination services reach the population with total recommended safety, efficacy and quality. The training of logistics professionals will make it possible to solve chronic problems of conservation and stock management, using modern technologies such as the Fridge Tag to monitor temperatures and reduce the waste of doses. With the replication of this knowledge with municipal technicians throughout the country, the final impact will be reflected in the increase in vaccination coverage rates in each municipality and in the reinforcement of community engagement, encouraging parents to take their children to vaccination centers with greater confidence.
For Fernando Adilson Avelino, a logistics professional in the province of Huíla, the training directly addresses the main difficulties of daily life, such as inventory failures that can generate stockouts and interrupt regular vaccination.
"After this training, we will be able to overcome management and conservation problems. These problems will be solved, as we now have the knowledge and tools to do so."
The logistics technician also highlights the importance of technology in the daily monitoring routine, referring to the use of modern devices such as the Fridge Tag, capable of recording the temperature history in the refrigeration chambers for 30 days, thus improving control.
"These means will bring a positive impact, because we have a main objective, which is to bring vaccination services to our communities safely", concludes Fernando, also reinforcing the importance of community engagement so that mothers take their children to the vaccination posts.
Insénia Izaura, who works in central logistics for vaccines through the National Immunization Program of the National Directorate of Public Health, brings the perspective of someone who operates in a more strategic area. She points out that, although the central level has robust infrastructures — such as refrigeration chambers and the RDNT remote temperature control system — the great challenge is to standardize quality at all levels.
"At the national level, we had a good score during the evaluation. Thanks to this training, we realize that all levels need to work together so that the score at the national level is acceptable."
Insénia details that the post-training plan provides for the division of the national team by regions to train municipal technicians and those from the most isolated health units. She also emphasizes the practical value of learning, citing the shake test to identify freeze-damaged vaccines as one of the acquired practices.
"Today I consider myself an expert in logistics, thanks to the training that UNICEF has provided, for which I am grateful."
Steve Macheso, an immunization specialist, frames the training in the country's epidemiological panorama. According to him, the training was already planned since the beginning of the year, but had to be postponed due to the emergency response to outbreaks of cholera and polio throughout the national territory.
The trainer warns of flaws in the cold chain detected during supervisions, highlighting the risks they pose to the quality and effectiveness of vaccines.
On the other hand, he is optimistic about the presence of global and local experts in the training, stressing that it aims to design a "fail-safe" logistics system, with an eye on the future.
"We are carrying out this training to strengthen the skills of our logisticians. This will also help us improve the results in the next evaluation, which is scheduled for 2028."
With the closure of practical and theoretical activities in Luanda, the 40 trained technicians will have the mission of decentralizing knowledge.
The expectation of the Ministry of Health and partners such as UNICEF and WHO is that the immediate replication of these guidelines will result in a decrease in the waste of vaccine doses, an increase in the uptime of equipment and, as a priority, an increase in vaccination coverage rates in each municipality in Angola.
