UNICEF blame drug shortage on logistical hitches
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Jonglei State has blamed the shortage of medical supplies on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The emergency fund said that the global pandemic interfered with the supply chain.
However, UNICEF noted that plans are in place to resolve the logistics logistical challenges adding that a consignment expected to arrive soonest.
“We are following the ministry of health guideline and WHO protocol on the number of the medication that is to be sent to each facility and one of the concerns is the share amongst the developing countries.,’’ UNICEF chief field officer, Bor, Khurram Javed told City Review.
Recently, Greater Upper Nile, GPAA and Jonglei State reported a shortage of drugs in the healthcare facilities, exposing the already vulnerable population.
Javed noted that occasional disagreement on shared proposition by counties still remains a big hindrance.
“We try to engage through social mobilisation and awareness creation that medicine is based on the need of the patient and the World Health Organization protocol on a particular disease.
“We are working on this and we are engaging our partners both at national, state ministry and international NGOs backing our project”.
He said some patients prefer injections and intravenous treatments to tablets with the notion that the latter does not guarantee effective treatment.
