Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN): Are Cold Chain Handlers Supporting this m Health? An Application of Kurt Lewin Theory of Change Management.

Abstract

Background: The success of the immunization programme depends on timely reporting of stock- outs and thereby ensuring its availability. Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) was introduced for real-time stock visibility and stock register maintenance. Objectives: The study aimed to conduct a situational analysis of eVIN and to explore various challenges faced by cold chain handler. Methodology: An observation study was carried on cold chain handler of all the 29 PHCs, where eVIN was introduced. Findings: Cold chain handlers were deputed at all the blocks. All the cold chain handlers were literate and had received eVIN training. The open vials were labelled during issuing and after a return. At most of the blocks, the stocks were updated in eVIN on utilisation, on receipt, stock count and discarded stocks. The stocks were updated mostly daily (69%), followed by twice daily and twice weekly. Most of the respondents either contact district cold chain manager or the technical support or discussed with seniors/ colleagues when they faced any problem. One- fifth of participants had difficulty in either handling a smartphone or in the network connection. Participants suggested that there should provision of the 3G network, additional training and auto- selection for updating VVM status. These challenges were used to study the sustainability of eVIN based on Kurt Lewin theory of change management. Conclusions: Electronic vaccine intelligence network has made the management of vaccine stocks much simpler for cold chain handler