Assessment of the iron-folic acid supplement (IFAS) supply chain to improve distribution at community level in Dakar and Fatick regions, Senegal
Amadou Lamine Gueye *
Micronutrient Initiative/Sahel Office, Dakar, Senegal.
Richard Pendame
Micronutrient Initiative/Sahel Office, Dakar, Senegal.
Banda Ndiaye
Micronutrient Initiative/Sahel Office, Dakar, Senegal.
Marietou Diop
Direction of Reproductive Health and Child Survival, Ministry of Health, Dakar, Senegal.
Bocar Mamadou Daff
Direction of Reproductive Health and Child Survival, Ministry of Health, Dakar, Senegal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: Ensuring adequate and timely availability of iron folic acid supplements at delivery points is a challenge for success of IFAS interventions. In Dakar and Fatick regions, the supply chain of IFAS was assessed to identify constraints and bottlenecks and to recommend solutions.
Methods: Structured interviews with 84 health workers from 36 health facilities were carried out to determine the supply chain constraints in Dakar and Fatick regions. Transcriptions were analyzed using content analysis.
Results: Health workers reported IFA stock-outs in 50% of included health districts. Although the needed quantities were reportedly available at regional drugs stores, the limited frequency of overall health commodity orders, applied by health districts to reduce costs, resulted in delayed IFA procurement when stocks were low. These delays were the primary cause of stock-outs reported by health workers.
Conclusions: Adequate and consistent supply of IFA supplements could be ensured through allowing larger orders of IFA during regular commodity orders, reducing or subsidizing the cost of IFAS or shipment costs.