Africa to receive $3 billion from the African Development Bank to boost its pharmaceutical industry

Dr Akinwumi Adesina spoke during a press briefing held following a visit to the Pasteur Institute in Dakar.

“The African Development Bank has decided to make available to Africa the sum of 3 billion dollars to strengthen the sector of the African pharmaceutical industry,” he said.

“Africa must have the capacity to manage everything related to Covid-19 by being able to do tests, to have access to vaccines, but also to be able to produce them on the spot”, continued Adesina, who has been visiting since. in Dakar.

The AfDB President expressed regret that Africa remains at the bottom of the scale when it comes to vaccine production.

“Africa cannot always depend on a system that produces everything related to vaccines, tests,” he argued, assuring that the import rate of pharmaceutical products for Africa is 80 to 95%.

“We should have the capacity to produce medicines to ensure the health of the population and not leave the health of 1.4 billion people to the generosity of others,” he said.

According to Adesina, Africa must have technical capacities, raw materials, laboratories, but also support the pharmaceutical sector.

The AfDB President left Dakar on January 29 after a three-day visit.

He was received by President Macky Sall on January 28 and signed four partnership agreements with Senegalese Minister of Economy Amadou Hott.

Source AfDB and Anadolu Agency