CAIRO, Egypt (BG) – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) remains steadfast in its mission to advance vaccine and health products manufacturing across the continent, reinforcing Africa’s journey toward health sovereignty and security.

Speaking at the 2nd Vaccine and Other Health Products Manufacturing Forum on Wednesday, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, emphasized the critical need for local production to ensure long-term health resilience.

“Africa’s health security depends on our ability to manufacture the vaccines and health products we need right here on the continent. By strengthening regulatory frameworks, securing sustainable financing, developing and fostering strategic partnerships, we are laying the foundation for a self-sufficient manufacturing ecosystem,” Dr Kaseya stated.

The forum united key stakeholders, including African Union Ministers of Health, development finance institutions, regional economic communities, policymakers, and vaccine manufacturers.

Discussions centered on removing barriers to regional manufacturing, such as fragmented markets, regulatory challenges, and financial constraints.

“Building a sustainable vaccine and health products manufacturing ecosystem would not only help meet the continent’s health needs, it would also deliver economic growth and enable African nations to take charge of their health futures,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.   

Africa CDC has been instrumental in driving progress, mainly through its leadership in establishing a Pooled Procurement Mechanism (PPM) and expanding the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) mandate to include broader health product manufacturing.

While challenges remain, Africa’s growing pharmaceutical industry presents immense potential to serve its 1.4 billion people. Africa CDC remains committed to ensuring that no country is left behind in achieving health security, reinforcing its vision of a resilient, self-sufficient, and sustainable healthcare ecosystem across the continent.