ZAMBIA, CHINA SIGN MOU TO ESTABLISH AFRICAN NATION’S 1ST CHOLERA VACCINE PLANT

Tue 08 October 2024:

Zambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China on Monday to establish the southern African nation’s first cholera vaccine manufacturing plant.

The project’s first phase will cost $37 million, with about three million doses expected to be produced through a joint venture between Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Jijia International Medical Technology Corporation.

Speaking during the signing ceremony for the agreement at State House in the capital Lusaka, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said the development was a key step in the country’s quest to eradicate the disease, which took away productivity as a result of affecting citizens.

“We are also sending a signal that Zambia, Africa and the globe are able to work together. Zambia must be looked at as a center, as a location to manufacture for a bigger market. And if you look at the population of Africa, it is growing very rapidly,” Hichilema was quoted as saying on state television.

__________________________________________________________________________

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22

__________________________________________________________________________

Hichilema said he expected the project to be commercially viable, adding there was no room for bureaucracy in its implementation, as it was lifesaving.

He added that ahead of the manufacturing, China would donate about three million doses of the cholera vaccine.

Cholera, a waterborne disease, has a long and troubling history in Zambia, where periodic outbreaks have posed significant public health challenges.

Cholera was first reported in Zambia during the global pandemic in the 1970s. Poor sanitation, contaminated water, and overcrowded areas made the country vulnerable.

Outbreaks became more frequent, particularly during the rainy season. Major urban centers like Lusaka were hardest hit due to their inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure.

The 2017-2018 outbreak was one of the worst in recent history, affecting thousands of people and claiming hundreds of lives. In response, the government declared a health emergency and launched aggressive efforts to contain it, including mass vaccinations, improved sanitation, and public awareness campaigns.

Since then, Zambia has focused on long-term prevention, improving water and sanitation systems, and conducting health education. Vaccination campaigns have been pivotal in reducing new cases.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

______________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22