The head of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okomjo-Iweala has hailed the planned vaccine hubs in Africa, saying the move offers a more promising path to preparedness for future health crisis, a report says.
“We have now seen that over-centralisation of vaccine production capacity is incompatible with equitable access in a crisis situation.
“Regional production hubs, in tandem with open supply chains, offer a more promising path to preparedness for future health crisis,” Reuters quoted Okomjo-Iweala as saying on Monday during a virtual meeting
She said facilities would be established in South Africa, Senegal and Rwanda. Nigeria was also being considered.
Okomjo-Iweala’s remarks came as South African president announced on June 21, that his country was set to host a technology transfer hub for coronavirus vaccines, adding that this was a first step towards Africa producing its own vaccines in the future.
#World Trade Organization head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says facilities will be established in South Africa, Senegal and Rwanda, with Nigeria also being considered, to create hubs for the production of COVID-19 vaccines. Okonjo-Iweala says this will help build equitable access. pic.twitter.com/rlNnRdg5A8
— MwanzoTV (@MwanzoTv) June 21, 2021
Ramaphosa said this during a joint virtual press conference with French President Emanual Macron, facilitated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Technology transfer hubs are training facilities where the technology is established at industrial scale and clinical development performed, according to a WHO press release.
“Interested manufacturers from low- and middle-income countries can receive training and any necessary licenses to the technology. WHO and partners will bring in the production know-how, quality control and necessary licenses to a single entity to facilitate a broad and rapid technology transfer to multiple recipients,” the statement says.
Ramaphosa said the hub was the start of a process, and the laying of a foundation for health security for the world’s most vulnerable.
ALSO READ | Vaccines for Africa: SA to host vaccine technology transfer hub
“The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the full extent of the vaccine gap between developed and developing economies, and how that gap can severely undermine global health security.
“This landmark initiative is a major advance in the international effort to build vaccine development and manufacturing capacity that will put Africa on a path to self-determination.
“South Africa welcomes the opportunity to host a vaccine technology transfer hub and to build on the capacity and expertise that already exists on the continent to contribute to this effort,” said Ramaphosa.
Macron, who called Ramaphosa “my friend”, said this partnership was the result of his state visit to South Africa at the end of last month.
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Macron said his country was committed to supporting efforts in Africa to scale up local manufacturing capacity of Covid-19 vaccines and other medical solutions.
“Today is a great day for Africa. It is also a great day for all those who work towards a more equitable access to health products. I am proud for Biovac and our South African partners to have been selected by WHO, as France has been supporting them for years,” said Macron.
He added: “This initiative is the first of a long list to come, that we will keep supporting, with our partners, united in the belief that acting for global public goods is the fight of the century and that it cannot wait.”
It was not immediately clear when the hub would be set up but WHO’s chief scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, said it could take a few months.
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
