Zelalem Bayisa (PhD)Helen Fikru2024-02-272024-02-272022-06https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/2024There is a global shortage of PPE, and one way to increase use is to improve the supply chain management systems. Health facilities in Ethiopia are managing COVID-19-related commodities using existing warehousing, inventory management, and distribution infrastructure, despite a lack of sufficient planning due to the pandemic. Maintaining proper inventory levels at many levels of the pharmaceutical supply chain is critical to ensuring continuous supply. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the covid-19 related personal protective equipment’s (PPEs) inventory management and storage practices in selected covid-19 treatment centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Using a checklist and semi-structured questionnaire, as well as an interview guide, a descriptive cross-sectional and exploratory study design with a mixed approach including quantitative and qualitative research methodologies carried out and SPSS and Microsoft Excel sheets were used to analyze quantitative data. Thematic analysis techniques were also used to manually analyze qualitative data. The assessment findings showed that 90.5 percent of PPEs were available, with 9.5 percent out of stock ranging from 137 to 180 days, with the average stock out frequency 1 lasting the full six months. To ensure that all PPEs were accurately inventoried, logistics tools were used. The findings of the assessment also showed that only three of the seven PPEs, however, had updated bin cards, therefore, with bin card stock exceeding physical count in two of the centers for 43 percent of the PPEs. The assessment indicated that the COVID-19 treatment centers failed to meet the majority of the storage practice standards, with adherence to each center's falling below 50 percent. Limited storage space, poor inventory infrastructure, insufficient staff, and timely inventory management training are all major challenges identified. Therefore, the inventory management and storage practices for PPEs were inadequate. Key words: Inventory Management, storage, PPEs, challenges, COVID-19en-USThesis