December 13, 2021
1 min read

AU Chair urges support for vax, medicine manufacture in Africa

Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union (AU), has called for supporting initiatives in the manufacture of essential medicines and vaccines beyond Covid-19 in the continent as this was key to global health security…reports Asian Lite News

Mahamat made the remarks at the Vaccines and Global Health Security Session of the Group of Seven Foreign and Development Ministerial meeting, according to an AU statement.

AU Chair urges support for vax, medicine manufacture in Africa

Mahamat stressed that the availability of vaccines against Covid-19 and the virus’ different variants is vital for Africa and the rest of the world, reports Xinhua news agency.

Regarding the delivery of vaccines, the AU Commission chairperson pointed out that Africa has seen disproportionate delays, in comparison with the rest of the world, when it came to vaccines ordered from the market and those pledged under COVAX, the global vaccine equity mechanism.

“Only 7 per cent of Africans have been vaccinated, compared to 70 per cent of people around the world,” Mahamat said.

According to the AU Commission chief, when the Covid-19 pandemic started in early 2020, Africa requested to have the same access to vaccines at the same price when they became available.

“Two years later, we witnessed that these assurances of global solidarity were ignored,” Mahamat said.

He further questioned the global community’s commitment and solidarity with Africa, regarding which he singled out the recent treatment of Southern African countries in connection with the Omicron variant.

“Now more than ever, the world must honor its commitments with urgency. Vaccine nationalism is self-defeating and suicidal in a global pandemic,” said Mahamat.

ALSO READ: S.African labs agree to reduce cost of PCR tests

Noting that the continent with a population of 1.3 billion accounts for about 14 per cent of the world’s population, but produces less than 0.1 per cent of global vaccines, he emphasised the need to enable Africa’s capabilities.

In April this year, the AU launched the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing, which aimed at ensuring timely access to vaccines to protect public health security.

Previous Story

Taliban begin reconstruction works in Kandahar

Next Story

Series of Saudi-led airstrikes target Houthis in Yemen

Latest from AFRICA NEWS

Kabila returns to Congo from exile 

Kabila, who left Congo in 2023, came to Goma “to participate in peace efforts” in the conflict-hit east where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized large swaths of territory  Former Congolese President Joseph

India, Tanzania discuss strengthening bilateral ties 

Tanzania and India have traditionally enjoyed close, friendly, and cooperative relations. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the political relationship was characterised by shared commitments to anticolonialism, non-alignment   India’s External Affairs

INS Sunayna arrives in Mozambique 

 The port call marks a significant milestone, enhancing maritime cooperation and interoperability between the Indian and Mozambique Navies   The Indian Navy’s INS Sunayna, currently deployed as part of the Indian Ocean
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Putin promises no-cost Russian grain shipments to 6 African countries

The Russian mercenary group Wagner has been active in Mali

Chinese debt trap hurdles Zambia’s progress

China, which has a keen interest in the natural resources