The Challenges of Nigeria Vaccine Supply Chain, a Community of Practice Perspective

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue III, March 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

The Challenges of Nigeria Vaccine Supply Chain, a Community of Practice Perspective

Timilehin M. Omole ^1*, Felix O. Sanni ², Paul A. Olaiya ³, Olusegun Aturaka ³, Musa Abdulsalam ³, Zachary T. Gwa ³, Olumide F. Ajani ³, Potter J. Aiden ¹, Chigozie G. Njemanze ¹

¹Department of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, FHI360-GF, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
²Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
³Department of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Axios Foundation, Abuja, Nigeria
⁴Department of Strategic Supply Chain Management, University of Roehampton, London, UK
*Corresponding Author

Abstract: – Vaccine supply chain is a critical success factor in the improvement in immunization coverage towards universal health coverage. Immunization in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) generally suffers lots of setbacks due to supply chain bottlenecks. This research therefore explored the supply chain ecosystem in Nigeria to determine the challenges of supply chain in Nigeria and possible solutions to them. The study took pragmatic approach to explore the Nigeria vaccine supply chain ecosystem. In a mixed method, we explored some quantitative and qualitative questions using an internet-based questionnaire (Google form). From the survey, a total of 200 valid responses were received and analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft excel combined and patterns/correlations. Among the professionals, only few people (21.0%) had above average (very good and excellent) knowledge of vaccine chain while more than 30% had very poor knowledge of vaccine supply chain in Nigeria. This poor knowledge of vaccine supply chain that cuts across all professions is a major challenge to efficiency and success of vaccine supply chain in Nigeria. All the five factors considered as bottlenecks to vaccine supply chain in Nigeria were highly rated as major challenges by over 90% of all respondents. Thus, a lot has to be done to create awareness on vaccine supply chain across all healthcare profession and more efforts are needed both by government and professionals to overcome the challenges of bottlenecks to vaccine supply chain in Nigeria.

Key words: Challenges, supply chain, vaccines, immunization, awareness, bottleneck

I. INTRODUCTION

A supply chain consists of all parties involved, directly or indirectly, in fulfilling customer’s requests. The supply chain includes not only manufacturers and suppliers, but also transporters, warehouses, retailers, and even customers themselves [1]. Supply Chain management encompasses all activities involved with procurement and manufacturing, including collaboration with suppliers, service providers, and customers [2]. Therefore, supply chain combines different functions: logistics, purchasing and strategic procurement, inventory, planning, production, intra-and inter-organizational relationships and performance measures [3].

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