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Ariel gives a presentation
at a UNICEF-supported cold chain workshop and training in NTT province ©Ermi Ndoen/UNICEF/2017
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“I’ve
got to go fix three cold chain refrigerators right away,” said Ariel, before
rushing off from Ende in Flores to Kefamenanu in Timor Tengah (TTU) District, a
hilly district on the eastern island of Timor hundreds of kilometers away.
Ariel
oversees cold chain integrity for the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Provincial
Health Agency, ensuring vaccines headed for local health centres stay cold from
point of manufacture to point of use – no mean feat in a tropical country where
high temperatures make constant refrigeration costly.
Keeping
vaccines cold, however, is a must, as they stop working if not kept between
2-8° C. Ariel makes sure that once vaccines make it to local health centres,
they stay cold.
“Unfortunately,
I often find broken vaccine storage units and no one able to fix them,” Ariel
said. “Sometimes the problem is minor,
like a broken wire caused by a mouse bite, but other times the repairs are more
expensive.
“One unit can equal the
price of a new Toyota Innova!” he added.
In
Indonesia, some 2-3 million deaths are prevented each year through vaccines for
diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis, and measles. Ensuring vaccines stay
at the proper temperature is a core focus of UNICEF Indonesia’s work. The
organization works closely with local governments to identify weak points in
the cold chain, providing expertise and advice on how to strengthen them.
“It
is sad when I see units that have fallen into disrepair, and to imagine
children might receive bad vaccines. Actually, the equipment will last a long
time if it is maintained properly,” Ariel said.
His work as a cold chain technician stretches back to 2011, when he was invited to
participate in a province-wide training on cold chain repair and maintenance
held by UNICEF.
“I
was interested to explore more about it, but it all really started with my
interest in fixing things,” Ariel said.
Only
a handful of those trained have since accumulated the necessary work experience
to become trainers themselves.
“Some
of my friends were trained, but it was me who was persistent and stuck with it.
I’ve fixed dozens of cold chains until now, probably saving [the government]
billions of rupiah through repairs,” he said.
Ariel
has been asked to evaluate and repair cold chains in places as far away as
Sumba, Flores and all over Kupang in Timor Island.
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| ©Ermi Ndoen/UNICEF/2017 |
He
says he is determined to keep doing his part to ensure vaccines are effective
and children are protected.
“I
feel sad if children don’t receive a safe vaccine due to breaks in the cold
chain.”
“By
helping my colleagues improve their cold chains, I help ensure a brighter
future for all NTT children,” he said.
Go
Ariel! The children of NTT need you.
