Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has praised the launch of the African Coalition for Health Innovation, Evidence, Vaccines and Epidemics (ACHIEVE Africa), describing it as a major step toward the continent’s long‑sought goal of health sovereignty.
The initiative was unveiled at the weekend in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) Summit.
Hichilema said ACHIEVE Africa would serve as Africa’s research and development engine, enabling the continent to design, produce and deliver its own vaccines and therapeutics.
“Although Africa has strengthened vaccine manufacturing, true health sovereignty requires full end-to-end capacity, from research and design to delivery,” Hichilema said on Sunday.
“It is unacceptable that Africa, with 17 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of global vaccine demand, produces only one percent of vaccines. We must do more.”
ACHIEVE Africa aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063, which targets 60 percent local vaccine production by 2040.
The coalition aims to strengthen scientific innovation, expand manufacturing capacity and reduce Africa’s dependence on external suppliers – an issue exposed during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Hichilema urged African leaders to be deliberate in investing in research, science and innovation, saying the continent must position itself strategically amid shifting global geopolitics.
JN/APA