Procurement agent and 4PL services provider, the Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM) is pleased to report that, in collaboration with forecasting, logistics and distribution partners the International Trachoma Initiative and Scan Global Logistics, it delivered the first shipment of the lifesaving antibiotic Azithromycin to Nigeria in May in support of the Resiliency of Azithromycin for Children (REACH) initiative.
The first shipment comprised more than 600,000 bottles of the macrolide oral suspension powder, which reduces all-cause child mortality and improves child survival rates through twice-yearly administration.
PFSCM, the supplier and the logistics services provider, collaborated to move the products in less than a week after receiving the green light for shipping during a particularly busy holiday period in Hainan, China, where the products originate.
PFSCM Senior Logistics Specialist Lucas de Aguiar says stakeholders collaborated intensely to move the products swiftly to meet a mass drug administration (MDA) event scheduled for late May in Kebbi.
He explains that as soon as the waivers and importation certificates in Nigeria were ready and PFSCM received the go-ahead from the recipient to proceed, it responded swiftly to negotiate the earliest pick-up from the supplier and the most suitable mode of transport.
“Importation documents, in this scenario, did not have a defined processing lead time; coincidentally, the documents were ready during public holidays in China, slightly complicating our transport plan.
“We negotiated with the supplier, and they kindly made an exception for the products to be collected after hours on a weekend.”
Later, with a pick-up time secured, PFSCM and Scan Global Logistics navigated the next unexpected logistics hurdle.
“The cargo was going to depart via Hong Kong airport, but owing to the public holidays, the unit loading devices would not have been built in time by the limited number of ground crew.
De Aguiar says Scan Global Logistics found an alternative charter flight departing from Macau, and its Chinese operation organized trucks to move the cargo from Hainan to Macau Airport.
“The charter with 189 pallets departed Macau on 1 May, arrived in Nigeria just after midnight on 2 May, was cleared and released to the recipient for collection.”
Collaboration and strong supply chain partnerships
He further explains that collaboration was key to the success of this delivery and adds that the skilled and professional partners in PFSCM’s network all worked towards the same goal of ensuring essential health products reach communities when and where needed.
“ITI played a key role in providing accurate demand forecasts, ensuring country readiness to import and receive the products, managing the shipment green light process, and monitoring drug stewardship throughout the product lifecycle, while Scan Global Logistics managed the upstream logistics, importation documents, and supported clearing,” notes de Aguiar.
ITI Director of Supply Chain Carla Johnson agrees that the successful delivery highlights the power of strategic coordination and shared commitment, and ITI Supply Chain Manager Moumine Yaro echoes the statement, adding that ITI is proud to contribute demand forecasting, country readiness, and responsible stewardship expertise to ensure lifesaving antibiotics reach children when and where they are needed most.
“We are honored to partner with PFSCM, Scan Global Logistics, and local health teams to support the REACH initiative in improving child survival.”
Scan Global Logistics Head of Department Aid & Relief Morten Bang Christensen also believes that collaboration and a shared mission were key to the success of this record-breaking delivery of critical cargo to Nigeria.
“Through close coordination with PFSCM and dedicated supply chain teams across China and Nigeria, we overcame multiple logistical hurdles to ensure that lifesaving antibiotics reached children on time.
“This achievement reflects the power of strong collaboration, quick thinking, and the unwavering commitment of all stakeholders.”
Supply and service continuity
Meanwhile, since the first shipment arrived in May, several more, totaling about 2 million bottles, have been safely delivered. Later this year, another 3.4 million bottles will be shipped.
These antibiotics will make a real impact in treating trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness globally, as well as various bacterial infections, such as respiratory and bowel infections.
PFSCM’s procurement and 4PL services for this project have already yielded promising results, with savings of about $383,000.
Read more about the REACH initiative and its partners here.
The photos are courtesy of the Gates Foundation, Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Children 1-59 months in Nigeria, and Scan Global Logistics.
Top (Featured): The Kebbi REACH MDA campaign in Nigeria, which treated more than a million children.
Bottom: The Scan Global Logistics China team with the cargo prepared on unit loading devices.