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Afreximbank to Spearhead Vaccine and Medicines Collaboration Between Rwanda, Guyana, and Barbados

Benedict Oramah, the President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), is championing a groundbreaking vaccine and medicines production collaboration between Rwanda, Guyana, and Barbados.

The initiative is poised to bring a significant transformation to the vaccine manufacturing landscape, with Afreximbank’s Africa Medical Supplies platform set to provide crucial financial and logistical support.

During the 2023 Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum in Guyana, Oramah highlighted the importance of this endeavor, underlining the growing synergy between Africa and the Caribbean.

He acknowledged the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring vaccine access in Africa, making this collaboration particularly significant.

This partnership represents a strengthening of ties between Africa and the Caribbean and Afreximbank’s commitment to nurturing the African pharmaceutical industry.

Oramah emphasized that it symbolizes “a sign of the growing cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean and our commitment to supporting the development of the African pharmaceutical industry.”

Afreximbank’s support aims to help these nations establish the necessary infrastructure and capabilities for long-term vaccine production.

Oramah said, “The Bank has the Africa Medical Supplies Platform through which we will provide the necessary financial and technical assistance to deals such as the one between Rwanda, Guyana, and Barbados to establish the necessary infrastructure and capacity to manufacture vaccines.”

This support is expected to accelerate the production of vaccines that will significantly contribute to the health and well-being of people in Africa and the Caribbean.

The African pharmaceutical industry, while still in its early stages of development, holds the potential to ensure easy access to medicines and vaccines for Africa’s population.

The Africa Medical Supplies platform, introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a vital hub for procurement, logistics, and financing in the healthcare supply chain.

The agreement between Rwanda, Guyana, and Barbados, signed earlier this year, signifies a turning point in international collaboration.

These nations are committed to a pooled procurement mechanism to ensure the long-term sustainability of vaccine manufacturing facilities.

This strategy is crucial to ensure that the benefits of this initiative continue to reach the people of Africa and the Caribbean.

A significant development in March saw Rwanda receive containers from the German biotechnology company BioNTech, marking the beginning of an mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility.

This transformative initiative is expected to reshape the healthcare landscape, create employment opportunities, and generate economic returns for Africa and the Caribbean.

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