President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has called on African countries to accelerate the production of locally made vaccines to fight diseases on the continent.
Speaking when he officiated at the Southern African launch of the Saving Lives and Livelihoods programme organised by the African Center for Disease Control -Africa -CDC-, President HICHILEMA said when drugs are locally made in Africa, they will be made available to all.
President HICHILEMA said Africa suffered in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic because developed countries satisfied their populations first with their drugs before shipping some to Africa.
And President HICHILEMA said Zambia used a multi-sectoral approach to reach the vaccination rate of 76 percent against the Coronavirus.
And Africa-CDC Acting Director AHMED OUMA disclosed that the Master Card Foundation has pumped in 1.5 billion dollars in the Saving Lives and Livelihoods programme.
Dr. OUMA said the programme will help purchase vaccines and strengthen health systems on the continent.
Meanwhile, Health Minister SYLVIA MASEBO said Zambia is now a shinning example for having achieved 70 percent vaccination for COVID-19.
