By Spy Uganda
The Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) and the Mastercard Foundation have announced a $45 million partnership named Manufacturing in Africa for Disease Immunisation and Building Autonomy (MADIBA) geared towards achieving vaccine manufacturing autonomy in Africa.
Speaking on the development, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IPD, Amadou Sall, said the partnership would enhance human capital development for biomanufacturing in Africa.
“The project is a crucial pillar for vaccine equity and autonomy and a significant driver for high-skilled job creation among young and female Africans.
“We aim to train a workforce for MADIBA and other African vaccine manufacturers, develop partnerships with African universities and promote science education among young students.
We extend our gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation for investing in our mission to accelerate equitable and sustainable access to health in Africa along with other financial and technical partners of the MADIBA project.”
Also, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mastercard Foundation, Reeta Roy, said: “This partnership builds on the game-changing intent of the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative. That is, to keep everyone safe by rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations, while ensuring Africa’s long-term health security by building vaccine manufacturing expertise and workforce on the continent. In the process, our collaboration will also benefit the livelihoods of young people in Africa.”
On his part, the Director General of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, said: “MADIBA aligns with the “Plan Sénégal Émergent” (Emerging Senegal Plan) to manufacture half of the country’s pharmaceutical products by 2035 as well as the African Union’s ambitious target to fulfill 60 per cent of the continent’s vaccine needs by 2040. As a blueprint for future vaccine manufacturing facilities across Africa, MADIBA marks a crucial first step towards vaccine self-sufficiency in Africa.
“A key pillar of this vision seeks to expand the local manufacture of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Presently, less than one per cent of vaccines administered on the continent are manufactured locally. This places a great financial burden on the health systems of African countries and reduces their ability to respond to pandemics and other health crises.”
