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The Secretary of State for Health, Dr Yvan Butera, with other delegates
More than 150 experts in medicines and vaccines exchange in Kigali for two days on the production and distribution of medicines and vaccines in the countries of the East African Community (EAC), according to the communication manager at the Biomedical Center of Rwanda (RBC), Julien Niyingabira.
“This is a meeting prepared by the Government of Rwanda through RBC and in partnership with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The meeting brings together around 150 experts and researchers in health policies, drugs and vaccines, to discuss the production and distribution of these vaccines among populations in order to improve their health,” he said.
RBC communications manager Julien Niyingabira
The lesson learned from the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that in the face of a pandemic, everyone individually must make an effort. Each country must not remain passive and isolated, doing nothing.
The observation is that the virus goes from one country to another. Control strategies should be implemented by all countries. During the Covid-19 period, it happened that we found certain places with a lot of medicines, and others with a lot of vaccines, or even places not served at all.
“The places or countries not served faced serious problems that affected other places and other countries. The main thing was to get the vaccines to everyone in need. This is why we must harmonize policies in such meetings in order to create the same strategies of struggle,” Niyingabira continued.
It is in fact a meeting of the African Union (AU) at the sub-regional level for the EAC countries and which invites Rwanda and the other EAC countries to harmonize health policies. What is implemented in one country will also be implemented in other EAC countries.
Three delegates from South African firm UVU
Three points appear in the Experts’ exchanges:
1. There is a need to build vaccine production capacities at EAC country level. For populations to have access to medicines and vaccines, these medicines and vaccines must be produced near these populations. However, it has been proven that in Africa 90% of vaccines are produced outside the continent.
2. Achieving self-sufficiency in this sector requires Africa to produce these vaccines close to its people.
Similarly, the laws that regulate these vaccines will be the same for all African countries. The quality of medicines and vaccines will be the same for all producing countries.
3. Increased cooperation between African countries will be needed to move vaccines from one country to another. The laws put in place will facilitate this movement.
The institutions and countries participating in this meeting will implement these guidelines to facilitate the production and distribution of drugs and vaccines.
Rwanda’s vaccine manufacturing industry will have started developing them by the end of 2023.
“It is an industry to develop various vaccines. What matters is the mRNA technology used to create this or that vaccine against tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases. Rwanda and partners have set up the first stage of six containers. They continue to invest to gradually expand the industry,” Niyingabira recalled.
Meanwhile, firms specializing in this field are in Kigali to get involved in this vaccine sector. This is particularly the example of the South African company UVU (which means discovery) which signed a MOU in the morning with the aim of starting to strengthen those who are ready to perform in this technology. (END)
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