In a collaboration between Zambia and China, a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and China’s JIJIA International Company Ltd intends to position the African country as the first on the continent to manufacture the cholera vaccine.
The Lusaka Times reports that the deal is part of the Zambia Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Initiative, with key support from partners like Shanghai United Cell Biotechnology Company.
The agreement comes as Zambia continues its role as a Global Cholera Champion, having co-sponsored the Cholera Prevention and Control Resolution, which aims to eliminate cholera by 2030.
Zambia is among a number of high-risk countries, with more than 20 000 cases and nearly 700 deaths during the 2023-2024 cholera outbreak. The new vaccine manufacturing plant will not only cater to domestic needs but also serve the broader region and the continent.
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