BY: ONOME AMUGE
Gricd, a cold chain technology company that exploits the Internet of Things (IoT) to enable last-mile delivery of temperature-sensitive products, has partnered with Haultrac, one of Nigeria’s leading logistics companies, to support the delivery of essential healthcare commodities to all 36 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The partnership is an indefinite quantity agreement that includes the delivery of commodities such as medicines, rapid diagnostic test kits, laboratory reagents and consumables, as well as other related health and non-health commodities across the country.
Gricd’s cutting edge technology will be leveraged to ensure that these commodities reach their final destinations in their most effective state and the startup will work with Haultrac, USAID and other partners to support the storage and transportation of specific commodities between agreed locations.
Using Gricd’s Real-Time Data Loggers and Enterprise Monitoring Software, all parties will be able to guarantee the quality of these commodities during storage, transit and distribution to the end-user.
The partnership will also include long haul and last-mile delivery of commodities dispatched and received from central and regional warehouses to cold storage facilities in Abuja, Jos, Ogba and Oshodi in Lagos State, as well as from regional distribution centres to health facilities or other designated service delivery points supported by USAID.
Oghenetega Iortim, founder and chief executive officer Gricd, explained that the inability to keep temperature-sensitive medical commodities within required temperature range leads to waste of life-saving medication, sometimes loss of life.
Iortim noted that the partnership with Haultrac and USAID will ensure the safe delivery of the essential commodities across Nigeria and make it easier for all parties to do business with confidence.
Segun Adeoye, chief executive officer, Haultrac, noted that transporting temperature-sensitive commodities over long distances in a country like Nigeria can present many challenges.
Adeoye, however, assured that with real-time monitoring, the commodities will be transported safely, with proactive steps taken to reduce wastage and maximise the value of the commodities.
