Nairobi, May 13: African leaders have agreed to accelerate a continental initiative aimed at boosting local production of essential health products, including medicines and vaccines. This agreement was reached during a meeting ahead of the opening ceremony of the Africa Forward Summit held in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
In a high-level meeting on the newly launched ‘Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM 2030)’, Kenyan President William Ruto emphasized the need to address infrastructure and technical capacity gaps to expedite the implementation of AIM 2030.
According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, he stated that overcoming these deficiencies is crucial for the continent to achieve self-sufficiency in medicines and vaccines, which is essential for effectively combating dangerous diseases.
Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, noted that a robust local pharmaceutical manufacturing system would enhance Africa’s health security, human rights, and developmental outcomes.
He also urged African nations to adopt new and innovative funding models to increase local production of essential health products and to establish sustainable supply chains to strengthen regional market supplies.
Mohammad Yakub Janabi, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, mentioned that lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted Africa to strengthen its health systems, particularly by increasing local production.
According to Janabi, AIM 2030 represents a significant commitment from African countries and international partners, aiming to double local manufacturing of health products, ensure equitable access for all, and strengthen health systems in line with Africa’s ‘Agenda 2063’.
This initiative, supported by the World Bank and the African Union, aims to enhance Africa’s production of health products and ensure better access for people amid disruptions in the global supply chain.
At the end of the summit, world leaders and African heads of state emphasized the need for a new financial framework to fully harness Africa’s economic potential.
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