APA – Lusaka (Zambia) – Zambian authorities are advocating to host the first ever hub for Cholera vaccines in Africa, official sources confirmed Wednesday in Lusaka.
The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema said his Government is engaging the leadership of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC), to establish the region’s indigenous cholera vaccine production hub in his country.
Estimates show that cholera has plagued Zambia since 1977, with Lusaka as one of the primary outbreak hotspots.
Participants at one ongoing International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) are advocating for home-grown solutions through the establishing local vaccine manufacturing, diagnostics, therapeutics, and other medical products.
Speaking at the event held in Lusaka, Zambia, the Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC), Jean Kaseya, said ensuring that Africa can manufacture its own vaccines will represent the second independence of the region.
Mr Kaseya said increased local manufacturing of vaccines, medications, and diagnostics is one important way to improve public health across Africa.
“The excessive dependence on imports for essential healthcare products is a matter of grave concern to the African region, ” he said.
Estimates by CDC-Africa show that less than 1 % of vaccines, 5 % of diagnostics and 30 % of therapeutics used in Africa are currently manufactured on the continent
This imbalance, according to experts, underscores the urgent need to strengthen Africa’s medical manufacturing capabilities to enhance self-reliance and reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions.
CPHIA is an annual conference organised by Africa CDC. The conference provides a unique African-led platform for leaders across the continent to reflect on lessons learnt in health and science and align on a way forward for creating more resilient health systems.
The organisers said the four-day conference will spotlight cutting-edge research and innovations, and present African-led solutions to public health challenges.
The conference is themed: “Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture”.
CU/abj/APA