Kagame, Africa CDC Explore Ways to Strengthen Disease Prevention in Africa

The Inspirer.

On October 11, President Paul Kagame met with Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), to discuss Rwanda’s preparedness in combating the Marburg virus and explore collaboration with Africa CDC on disease containment strategies.

The discussions also focused on key strategies to boost disease prevention across the continent. A post from the President’s Office on X highlighted their exchange on enhancing the capacity for vaccine and medical kit manufacturing in Africa.

During their meeting, President Kagame and Dr. Kaseya addressed Rwanda’s efforts in containing the Marburg virus outbreak. The conversation extended to broader regional cooperation in public health security.

Dr. Kaseya, who was in Rwanda for the AfCFTA Business Forum, Biashara Afrika 2024, also criticized a recent travel advisory by the United States. On October 8, the US CDC issued a level 3 travel notice for Rwanda due to the Marburg outbreak, an action Kaseya described as unfair and unjustified.

Kaseya emphasized that Rwanda poses an extremely low risk of exporting the Marburg virus. Speaking during an online press conference on October 10, he reassured that the country has implemented strong measures to prevent the virus from spreading beyond its borders.

The Africa CDC has been taking proactive steps to improve health security on the continent. In August, it committed to delivering 10 million mpox vaccines by 2025, underscoring the need to address ongoing public health threats.

Last year, BioNTech, a German biotech company, made significant strides in Africa by opening its first manufacturing site for mRNA vaccines in Kigali. This facility, located in the Kigali Special Economic Zone, spans 300,000 square meters and represents a major step forward in biopharmaceutical production for the continent.

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