Thousands of mothers and children in remote communities of Chuave district now have improved access to vaccines following the installation of solar powered fridges at Chuave Rural Hospital, where frequent power interruptions affect health services.
Story by Kowara Bell
With more than fifty thousand people residing in the remote highlands of the Chimbu Province, Papua New Guinea, many mothers and children rely on Chuave Rural Hospital for their essential health services, including immunisation programmes, health patrols and community awareness initiatives.
The hospital serves as a key referral point for surrounding health centres in Chuave, often without suitable medical storage.
Through a health initiative with Digicel Foundation, the MAF Technologies team have successfully installed five vaccine fridges in the wider region, with additional installations still in the planning stage for this year.
“Our work in remote communities is often disrupted due to power outages that affect vaccine cooling,” said Karl Bafi, the District Coordinator for Family Health at Chuave hospital.
“But now, this solar-powered vaccine fridge allows us to store vaccines for longer periods and deliver them to those in need in the remote parts of Chuave.”
Karl highlighted that these vaccines provide vital protection to children and mothers against preventable diseases like polio, tetanus and measles, and require cold storage due to their value and sensitivity.
“Vaccines require careful handling and storage at suitable temperatures to prevent spoilage, and a reliable powered cold-chain system helps us better serve those who are sick,” Karl said.
With a mission to improve health systems in remote areas, the Digicel Foundation’s health programme, in partnership with MAF Technologies, is strengthening healthcare infrastructure and vaccine delivery to support the long-term sustainability of essential immunisation services in rural areas of Papua New Guinea.
For Jovina Kerowa, MAF Technologies Procurement Officer, transporting vaccine fridges carries significant responsibility, as sourcing quality units requires careful comparison and negotiation amid local currency challenges.
“Despite the obstacles and occasional setbacks along the way, giving up has never been an option, as we understand that for many remote health centres, we are one of the few sources of life-saving vaccine fridges,” said Jovina.
“We do everything we can to ensure these vital pieces of equipment reach local health facilities, helping to save lives and strengthen healthcare services in some of the most isolated communities.”
As a mother herself, Jovina understands that nothing beats a mother’s love for her children.
She highlighted that protecting children’s health by providing access to immunisation services is priceless to a mother.
“This reduces the risk of losing lives while giving patients and their families greater confidence and hope in the healthcare services available to them,” Jovina added.
Noah Siso, the MAF Technologies technician who installed the system said: “The solar-powered unit will help the hospital rely less on unstable grid power and costly generator fuel, so vaccines can be stored safely at all times.”
After installation, Chuave health workers were provided with hands-on training for routine monitoring and performance checks to ensure the cold-chain system remains in good condition.
“A few of the hospital staff are now trained in operational procedures, including temperature logging and maintenance, so that they can maintain and know how to monitor readings and understand system operations,” Noah said.
