President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame on Saturday hosted Rwandans and friends of Rwanda for the annual end of year party at Kigali Convention Centre.
“Because of our history, when we started rebuilding this country, the starting point was so low that we could not go any lower,” President Kagame told the jubilant citizens.
“The result is that today, the only way is up and nothing can stand in our way. This does not happen on its own. It is a result of the choices we have made, our determination and a mindset that believes we will do what it takes no matter how difficult,” added President Kagame.
This is the first such annual end of year party massive gathering since the Covid-19 pandemic which the WHO in May this year declared ended as a global health emergency that killed nearly 7 million people globally.
As of publication of this article, Covid-19 cases in Rwanda have reached 133,518, recorded 1,468 deaths and 132,039 recoveries.
Although Covid-19 is no longer defined as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), it continues to take a significant toll on health globally. With the pandemic now in its fourth year, it is clear the virus is likely to stay with us for many years to come – if not forever.
Rwanda’s fight against Covid-19 pandemic has earned the country global praise as the world seeks to emerge from this crisis.
As the world enters this new phase, countries will also have to learn to live with the virus alongside other respiratory diseases, and this means integrating COVID-19 control into broader prevention and control programmes.
Rwanda in a forward move, early this week unveiled a new modular vaccine plant by BioNTech, a German biotechnology company.
The modular plant, established in partnership with the Rwandan government, is the first of its kind on the continent.
BioNTainers will be equipped to manufacture a range of mRNA-based vaccines targeted to the needs of African Union member states.
“Africa will have one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the world. These BioNTainers will be able to manufacture any kind of mRNA vaccines,” Ugur Sahin, the co-founder and CEO of BioNTech said during the launch in the Kigali Special Economic Zone.
Sahin, revealed that the facilty can produce more than 50 million doses, annually, for regular public supply or during a pandemic, or they can also be used to produce 10,000 mRNA doses for clinical trials.
Details also indicate that the facility will churn out the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine and BioNTech’s investigational malaria and tuberculosis vaccines, once they are successfully developed, approved, or authorized by regulatory authorities.
BioNTech intends to carry out clinical trials in Africa for vaccine candidates targeting malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV, in 2024.
