Dylan Bettencourt
The Africa Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged around R47 billion across the continent in the next decade to improve vaccine self-sufficiency.
The AfDB plans to end Africa’s vaccine dependency and allow the continent to produce its own vaccines to improve accessibility.
The investment includes plans for a new pharmaceutical centre for research, development and manufacturing in Rwanda.
The plans come as Africa remains a step behind the rest of the world in terms of Covid-19 vaccine rates.
Allowing African nations to better research and develop vaccines will prevent dependency in the future, the AfDB plans.
The bank has claimed it will assist in a patent and licence for African-made medicines as well as provide support to governments in terms of rights to intellectual property.
This pledge follows the recent World Trade Organisation announcement of a waiver on Covid-19 vaccine patents, which will now allow developing countries to produce the vaccine in their own countries.
The AfDB said it was concerned that African countries had to import 70% of their medicines each year, with the continent spending over R220 billion on medicinal products annually.
“Africa shouldn’t allow itself to be vulnerable in excessively depending on others, whether it’s for vaccines or for food,” said Akinwumi Adesina, president of the AfDB.
“The fact is that, when you’re dependent on others, you’re also highly vulnerable to shock of any kind.”
Image source: @WHO
