The government has pledged to institutionalise a digital maintenance system for vaccine refrigerators and cold chain equipment developed under the Rapid Repair and Response (R3) project, in a move aimed at safeguarding vaccine quality and strengthening Tanzania's immunisation programme.
Health officials say sustaining the systems introduced through the project will help ensure vaccines are stored at the recommended temperatures, reducing the risk of spoilage and improving the reliability of immunisation services across the country.
The commitment was made on June 30, 2026, during a post-implementation review meeting of the R3 project, which was implemented in collaboration with inSupply Health Tanzania to improve the registration, monitoring and maintenance of vaccine refrigeration equipment.
Closing the meeting, Dr Florian Tinuga of the Preventive Services Unit in the Health Services Department at the President's Office–Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) said the project's success would depend on whether its systems continue to function after donor support ends.
"The gains achieved through the R3 project must be sustained by ensuring that the maintenance management system for vaccine refrigerators and cold chain equipment continues to operate efficiently at every level of healthcare delivery," he said.
He noted that an effective cold chain remains one of the most critical components of any immunisation programme, as vaccines lose their potency if exposed to temperatures outside recommended ranges.
For that reason, Dr Tinuga urged health workers to continue adhering to national guidelines and operational protocols governing vaccine storage and handling.
"Maintaining the required storage temperatures at all times is essential to protecting vaccine quality and ensuring that citizens continue to receive safe and effective immunisation services," he said.
He also encouraged healthcare workers to apply the technical skills and practical experience acquired during the R3 project to strengthen preventive maintenance, improve equipment management and address technical faults before they disrupt service delivery.
Beyond equipment maintenance, Dr Tinuga called for sustained investment in the capacity of health workers, stronger monitoring of cold chain performance, improved use of maintenance data and strict compliance with implementation guidelines across all levels of the health system.
Participants at the review meeting said the R3 project had significantly strengthened the maintenance of vaccine refrigerators and cold chain equipment, leading to more reliable immunisation services in health facilities across the country.
They observed that faster reporting and repair of equipment failures, combined with improved maintenance planning, had reduced downtime and enhanced the availability of functional cold chain infrastructure.
The meeting also reviewed lessons from the project's implementation, identified remaining operational challenges and agreed on strategies to sustain the achievements through stronger government ownership, continuous monitoring and closer collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector.
The government's commitment to maintaining the R3 systems comes as Tanzania continues to strengthen its immunisation infrastructure, recognising that a reliable cold chain is essential for protecting vaccine effectiveness and expanding access to life-saving vaccines nationwide.
