Imperial Health Sciences is developing a new pharmaceuticals storage and distribution facility in Nairobi, Kenya.
“This custom-built warehouse forms part of our active delivery of healthcare and storage solutions in developing markets, where there is a dire shortage of warehouse facilities that meet the requirements for effective, quality-assured pharmaceuticals warehousing and distribution,” says Imperial Health Sciences MD Dr Iain Barton.
“Healthcare practitioners in underserved areas are faced with a growing burden of complex disease management, aggravated by ageing infrastructures and unreliable supply of essential medicines.”
Located on Mombasa road, in Nairobi, the new facility will be 9 564 m2 in size, offering 5 361 pharmaceutical pallet locations, as well as 3 978 consumer and 466 cold-chain pallet locations.
The development also includes a 1 000 m2 office area and a conference and training centre.
“The $20-million construction contract has been awarded to a consortium of Kenyan contractors,” says Barton.
“At its peak, the contract will create employment for 400 local people.”
Sustainability initiatives at the new facility will include solar-powered external lighting and electric fencing; energy efficient, sensor-operated industrial fittings in the warehouse; energy efficient air-conditioning units throughout the facility; and solar-heated hot water.
Thermo-protecting paint and energy reducing insulation will also be used to minimise the facility’s heating and cooling requirements.
The development will also harvest rainwater, and will have its own water purification plant.
The facility is expected to be up and running in 2015.
Imperial Health Sciences currently employs 96 people in Nairobi, with the warehouse taking this number to 180.