- Korean government officials have revealed that the bank has already received approval to support the initiative
- Bank working on modalities for a feasibility study that will inform the extent of the support.
Image: MAGDALINE SAYA
Kenya’s plan to set up a human vaccine facility is likely to start after the Exim Bank of Korea revealed it was ready to support the project.
The establishment of the facility is part of Kenya’s effort to enhance the healthcare capacity especially in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
Last week, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe held a meeting with the bank’s director Minnie Chey and other senior officials from the Korean government to chat a way forward.
Korean government officials have revealed that the bank has already received approval to support the initiative and is working on modalities for a feasibility study that will inform the extent of the support.
“Kenya remains committed to realise self-sufficiency in production of healthcare goods and a regional leader in pharmaceutical products,” Kagwe said.
“The country is well positioned to manufacture for the regional market. So, there is a need to not only support the manufacture of vaccines but other products as well,”he said.
The CS urged the bank to consider extending support to local manufacturers.
The government is already engaging international partners involved in vaccine manufacturing to allow for technology transfer as it seeks to enhance the country’s capacity in the area of research and development.
The first phase of the project that includes setting up of basic infrastructure is on course with the identification of physical space.
A facility that was previously hosting the old Kemsa depot in Embakasi has been identified by the government to host the planned vaccines fill and finish plant.
The government officials tasked with identifying a suitable site for the plant settled for Embakasi after an initial survey visit at Kitengela vaccines depot showed the area was densely populated.
The last phase involves the establishment of a full-fledged bulk antigen production facility and a biological products research and development centre as well as capacity building with a focus on research and development.
The decision to fast-track the development of a human vaccine facility in the country was prompted by the recent shortage of Covid-19 vaccines that slowed ongoing mass vaccination drives especially across many African countries.
The plant is projected to be completed in 2024.
“We found a place in Embakasi which is in the industrial area close to the airport. It has been evacuated and it is now ready for renovation,” vaccines deployment taskforce chair Willis Akhwale said.
Akhwale is also a member of the task force headed by Kemri board chairman Daniel Mbinda which was formed to actualise the dream.
“We have gone for what we call the APIs which is the active pharmaceuticals ingredients, we have identified a partner, we are now at a place we call un-disclosure that is why maybe a lot of information is not there because we need to sign first,” Akhwale said.
He added, “Then we have identified people who we can partner with in terms of the equipment, so what the government has done is, a week ago, they formed what we call Kenya biovax limited, which will have the power to go into partnership towards vaccine production.”
The plant seeks to boost the government vaccination plan that targets to vaccinate at least an adult population of 27 million by the end of next year amid vaccine unavailability.
-Edited by SKanyara