Transaid has partnered with fellow nonprofit organisation American International Health Alliance (AIHA) on an exciting 12-month supply chain strengthening project, funded by The Gates Foundation, with Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Services (EPSS).
The project will see Transaid work to build human resources capacity and support staff development within the EPSS. The Addis Ababa-based agency procures nearly one billion USD worth of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies each year, for delivery to more than 4,000 health facilities across the country – now the 10th most populous in the world.
Sam Clark, Head of Programmes for Transaid, says: “EPSS has a vision to be the most responsive and efficient pharmaceutical supply chain organisation in Africa by 2030, and this project directly supports that goal.
“After reviewing the EPSS’ policies and procedures last year, followed by a visit to meet with the key stakeholders and to see the operation for ourselves, we were able to identify specific actions where we can help to strengthen current practices.”
The project has so far included the development of a tailored implementation plan to guide the rollout of actions identified in the initial analysis, with clear responsibilities for all project partners and a tracking tool to measure inputs. The setting up of in-person and remote workshops to support knowledge exchange will form an important part of the implementation plan.
Clark explains: “The wealth of knowledge we can unlock through our corporate partners is second to none. Combined with everything we already know as an organisation about transport, logistics, and access to healthcare from three decades working across sub-Saharan Africa, it makes Transaid the perfect delivery partner for a project like this.”
EPSS has more than 70 years of experience in providing pharmaceuticals, laboratory reagents, medical equipment and supplies to the Ethiopian people. Today the country is one of the fastest growing African economies, with its 112,00-mile road network undergoing significant expansion to support trade and logistics.
For more information and to find out how you can support the organisation visit www.transaid.org
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Note to Editor:
About Transaid
Transaid transforms lives through safe, available, and sustainable transport. Founded by Save the Children, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the international development organisation works with communities, partners, and governments to solve transport challenges throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Transaid works in two core areas, road safety and access to health, to solve two of the biggest transport challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Transaid’s road safety work focuses on influencing safe driver behaviour with long term programmes in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, responding to local needs for improved training for drivers and riders of trucks, buses, motorcycles and forklift trucks. On the access to health side, Transaid is working with local partners and communities to strengthen access to health services, primarily in rural areas. They are also working to strengthen health supply chains in collaboration with local partners and governments.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Maddy Matheson at Transaid: +44 (0)20 7387 8136 / maddy@transaid.org
Natalie Ganshert or James Keeler at Garnett Keeler PR: +44 (0)20 8647 4467, or by email to natalie.ganshert@garnettkeeler.com / james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com
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