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EAC center of excellence for vaccines, immunization opens

Xinhua, March 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

A new regional organ meant to tackle challenges of vaccine and other commodities supply chain management has been launched, expected to address weaknesses in human resource capacity.

The East African Community (EAC) Regional Center of Excellence for vaccines, immunization and health supply chain management was launched Thursday in Kigali.

The center at the University of Rwanda's College of medicine and health sciences in Kigali was launched by the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Richard Sezibera and Dr Agnes Binagwaho, Rwanda's minister of Health.

Speaking at the launch, Sezibera talked about the need for robust and innovative supply chain that embraces the latest technologies in order to reach the Community's children with requisite vaccines.

"This center will not only train a cadre of health supply chain managers. It will also continue to harness best practices, pursue innovative supply chain spaces both in the public and private sectors and continue to bring in the private sector to participate," said Sezibera.

The center is expected to help in professionalizing health and immunization and related commodity logistics management in the region.

Dr Agnes Binagwaho, said Rwanda will do its best to help each and everyone to fulfill their commitments.

"We welcome students from sister countries. This is one great way to move toward the one people, one destiny, which is the dream of each and everyone here," said the minister.

Binagwaho noted that the pillar of good health is good education.

"But this center of excellence is going to bring a lot in terms of economic development. It is going to help in the procurement of everything, not only in health. We all know how much we lose in bad procurement," she said.

Dr. Klaus Mueller, director at KfW, a German government-owned development bank that injected an initial funding of 10 million euros in the project said he was very proud that the idea of the regional center was conceived.

It is hoped to respond to challenges of cold chain management due to inadequate infrastructure; human capital and low immunization in remote areas. Endit