Zambia has formalised a strategic partnership with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to bolster domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity, the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) announced on Friday.
The memorandum of understanding aims to create a robust vaccine production ecosystem in Zambia, supporting national needs and enabling regional distribution across Africa. ZNPHI Director-General Roma Chilengi called the deal “a strategic leap forward,” highlighting its foundational role in reshaping the continent’s reliance on imported vaccines.
“This initiative is not merely technical; it is foundational to create an enabling environment for producing a wide array of vaccines tailored to national and continental health needs. This is a first for Zambia, and it sets us apart as a pioneer in Africa’s health manufacturing landscape,” Chilengi stated.
The move comes as Zambia pushes to position itself as a regional health manufacturing leader. Chilengi underscored the importance of self-sufficiency in vaccine supply chains, particularly in light of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative Clement Peter Lasuba described the agreement as a turning point for Africa’s health agenda. He stressed the need to prepare communities for the transition to locally produced vaccines and reaffirmed WHO support for Zambia’s ambitions.
“This partnership is not just a contract; it is a commitment to a healthier, more self-reliant Africa. Zambia will take the lead in local vaccine production, and we hope other countries will follow to improve the well-being of people across the region,” Lasuba said.
The partnership is expected to open pathways for innovation, improve access to life-saving immunisations, and strengthen regional health resilience in the years to come.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, acc...
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citi...
The 83rd Venice Film Festival has opened on the Lido, bringing Hollywood stars and leading filmmakers together for a programme dominated by war, po...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia that he believed there was "a chance of finding a solution," to the conflict.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 3rd of September, covering the latest developments.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
Thousands of residents of Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the government’s handling of a migration crisis that followed a deadly border surge in July.
Australia has confirmed its first case of H5N1 bird flu in a mammal after the virus was detected in a dead long-nosed fur seal in South Australia, authorities said.
Malaysia is facing a sharp rise in dengue infections, with the capital Kuala Lumpur and the wider Klang Valley emerging as the main centres of concern.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 5,000 confirmed cases, with the death toll reaching 2,378, according to the latest government data.
The Democratic Republic of Congo says the number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to more than 5,000, with more than 2,300 deaths. Delayed detection, weak surveillance, funding shortages and conflict have allowed the virus to spread faster than in any previous epidemic at the same stage.
Australia warned on Monday (3 August) of a wider spread of H5N1 bird flu after its first confirmed mass mortality event among seabirds killed about 50 greater crested terns off the coast of South Australia, south of Adelaide.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment