Cold Chain Equipment Management and Partners’ Challenges in Kiribati

The management of cold chain equipment (CCE) in Kiribati presents unique and persistent challenges that significantly affect vaccine storage, distribution, and potency. As an archipelagic nation spread over 33 atolls and reef islands, Kiribati’s health infrastructure and logistics systems are strained by geographic isolation, unreliable power supply, and limited human resource capacity. This paper explores the multifaceted challenges of CCE management in Kiribati, with emphasis on technical, operational, and coordination barriers. It also examines the role of key development partners UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Governments of Japan and Australia in strengthening cold chain systems. The findings reveal that while partner interventions have been instrumental in expanding equipment coverage and technical support, systemic issues related to sustainability, capacity, and coordination persist. The study calls for sustainable investment in equipment lifecycle management, improved governance and coordination mechanisms, and context-specific technology adoption to ensure the continuity and quality of immunization services in remote island settings [1]-[3].