The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced a major $3.2 billion financing and grant package designed to bolster local drug and vaccine manufacturing across the continent.
Dr. Abebe Getenu, the Africa CDC Local Manufacturing Coordinator, announced the development during a meeting with drug developers, manufacturers, and researchers in Matugga. The meeting was part of a continental assessment of manufacturing capabilities, which included a delegation led by Dr. Mosoka Fallah, Africa CDC’s Director of Science and Innovation.
The initiative is a strategic move to reduce Africa’s heavy reliance on imported pharmaceuticals and establish greater self-sufficiency in healthcare production.
The delegation conducted a site visit to evaluate the facilities of DEI Biopharma, a local manufacturer of generic painkillers and antibiotics. Dr. Getenu outlined the structure of the financial package, highlighting a $2 billion pledge from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) for financing and an additional $1.2 billion grant from the Gavi African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA).
“Finance is the core of any manufacturing,” Dr. Getenu stated. He explained that accessing the Gavi funds is contingent upon manufacturers achieving the World Health Organization’s prequalification standard, a key benchmark for quality and safety. “What we’re trying to do is support our manufacturers to reach WHO prequalification so they can access the first payment,” he said.
Dr. Getenu also emphasized that ensuring a sustainable market for locally produced goods is critical. To address this, the Africa CDC is establishing an African Pooled Procurement Mechanism to guarantee a continent-wide market for manufacturers.
The push for local production addresses a significant dependency. According to Brenda Nakazibwe, Team Lead of Pathogen Economy in the Office of the President, Uganda has been 95-99 percent import-dependent for medicines and 100 percent for vaccines and diagnostics, a statistic reflective of most African nations. This funding aims to fundamentally alter that dynamic and build a resilient African health infrastructure.