The Anambra State Government has taken delivery of 76 solar powered refrigerators worth N174.8 million donated by the European Union for storage of drugs in some rural communities in the state.

Local government areas mapped out to benefit include Idemili, Aguata, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka North, Awka South, Ayamelum, Idemili North and Idemili South.

Others are Ihiala, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Orumba North, Orumba South and Oyi.

The rural cold stores would complement the Central Pharmaceutical Cold Store in Awka, the state capital.

While receiving the refrigerators and their panels in Awka, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, said two more were still being expected, adding that the state is also expecting more donations, including vehicles, tricycles and training kits from the EU.

He hailed the EU for the gesture and promised that the equipment would be put to proper use immediately in all the communities.

Dr. Akabuike explained that the cold chain is very important in health care delivery to ensure the potency of drugs dispensed in the state by health care providers, noting that with the present epileptic power supply across the country, the delivery of the solar refrigerators was timely.

He said that with refrigerators in the rural communities, coverage of immunisation exercises in the state would be made easy.