Supply chain IT heroine Shailemo helping save lives

• By Martha Nangombe

DEDICATED pharmacists and supply chain professionals, like 34-year-old Leena Shailemo, are critical to ensuring that the right medicines are available conveniently for people with chronic illnesses like HIV.

This is critical in successfully treating chronic illnesses and positive health outcomes.

Shailemo, who has worked as an information technology professional for the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project in Namibia since 2018. She is an essential member of the team that ensures the smooth operation of Namibia’s public health supply chain.

The GHSC-PSM aims to secure continuous supplies of health commodities in support of US government-funded public health projects worldwide.

The project in Namibia provides targeted technical help to the Ministry of Health and Social Services and its Central Medical Stores (CMS) in procurement, warehousing, and distribution, ensuring that life-saving pharmaceuticals are available to all Namibians who require them.

The Health Ministry manages the supply chain’s inventory at the CMS in Windhoek and two regional Medical Stores in Oshakati and Rundu using SYSPRO software.

Shailemo assists her colleagues throughout the supply chain in using and maintaining SYSPRO, allowing them to efficiently plan what pharmaceuticals they require in what quantities and at what locations around the country.

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