The Federal Republic of Germany has inked an intergovernmental agreement with the East African Community (EAC) to support regional health programmes.
In total, euro 30m ($34m) will be invested in vaccines and the health supply chain management.
Speaking at the signing event mid this week in Arusha, Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, Secretary-General of the EAC and member of the intergovernmental alliance for immunisation (GAVI) board welcomed the contribution, saying it was timely and needed.
“We are very happy with new and existing projects that are being financed by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany,” he said.
“This assistance for the health sector in the EAC reaffirms Germany’s status as a true friend of the people of East Africa,” he declared.
In his comments, German Ambassador Egon Kochanke said this new commitment underlines Germany’s commitment to supporting Tanzania and the rest of the EAC.
“Germany continues to be a strong partner for the EAC, contributing to an integration process that puts the people in the centre," the envoy said.
Accompanying Amb. Kochanke were Lena Thiede, Counsellor/Head of Regional Cooperation at the German Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Katrin Brandes of KFW, a development bank and Bernd Multhaup, Programme Manager for GIZ, an international development agency.
Others at the function were EAC Deputy Secretary General (Planning and Infrastructure) Dr. Enos Bukuku, Lake Victoria Basin Commission Deputy Executive Secretary Patrice Niyongabo, Counsel to the Community, Dr. Albert Kafumbe, and the GAVI Special Adviser to the EAC Secretary General, Stephen Karengera.
In the contribution, German Development Cooperation will provide 20 million euros for the procurement of vaccines against different diseases affecting children in the EAC zone.
The programme will be implemented in collaboration with GAVI. This new commitment will bring Germany`s contribution to regional immunisation programmes with the EAC to 60 million euros since 2012.
Earlier in 2015, Germany hosted the record replenishment of the global vaccination alliance GAVI. As a result, an additional 300 million children will receive live-saving vaccines, including in the EAC.
Inappropriate cooling systems result in high volumes of vaccines being wasted before they reach the people that need them, a dilemma to be addressed by a grant of 10 million euros to support the establishment of the EAC regional centre of excellence for health supply chain management.
The centre, slated for Kigali, will strengthen capacities and support the management of complex supply systems for health products, such as vaccines that need to be kept cold at all times.
GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private global health partnership committed to increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.GAVI brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialised and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other philanthropic organisations.
Since 1998, Germany development cooperation contributes to the capacity development of the Secretariat of the EAC and regional integration in East Africa through a variety of programmes and projects. Germany's funding for technical and financial cooperation with the EAC has totalled about 176 million euros. It similarly provides substantial support for health sectors in EAC member states.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
In total, euro 30m ($34m) will be invested in vaccines and the health supply chain management.
Speaking at the signing event mid this week in Arusha, Ambassador Dr. Richard Sezibera, Secretary-General of the EAC and member of the intergovernmental alliance for immunisation (GAVI) board welcomed the contribution, saying it was timely and needed.
“We are very happy with new and existing projects that are being financed by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany,” he said.
“This assistance for the health sector in the EAC reaffirms Germany’s status as a true friend of the people of East Africa,” he declared.
In his comments, German Ambassador Egon Kochanke said this new commitment underlines Germany’s commitment to supporting Tanzania and the rest of the EAC.
“Germany continues to be a strong partner for the EAC, contributing to an integration process that puts the people in the centre," the envoy said.
Accompanying Amb. Kochanke were Lena Thiede, Counsellor/Head of Regional Cooperation at the German Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Katrin Brandes of KFW, a development bank and Bernd Multhaup, Programme Manager for GIZ, an international development agency.
Others at the function were EAC Deputy Secretary General (Planning and Infrastructure) Dr. Enos Bukuku, Lake Victoria Basin Commission Deputy Executive Secretary Patrice Niyongabo, Counsel to the Community, Dr. Albert Kafumbe, and the GAVI Special Adviser to the EAC Secretary General, Stephen Karengera.
In the contribution, German Development Cooperation will provide 20 million euros for the procurement of vaccines against different diseases affecting children in the EAC zone.
The programme will be implemented in collaboration with GAVI. This new commitment will bring Germany`s contribution to regional immunisation programmes with the EAC to 60 million euros since 2012.
Earlier in 2015, Germany hosted the record replenishment of the global vaccination alliance GAVI. As a result, an additional 300 million children will receive live-saving vaccines, including in the EAC.
Inappropriate cooling systems result in high volumes of vaccines being wasted before they reach the people that need them, a dilemma to be addressed by a grant of 10 million euros to support the establishment of the EAC regional centre of excellence for health supply chain management.
The centre, slated for Kigali, will strengthen capacities and support the management of complex supply systems for health products, such as vaccines that need to be kept cold at all times.
GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private global health partnership committed to increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.GAVI brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialised and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other philanthropic organisations.
Since 1998, Germany development cooperation contributes to the capacity development of the Secretariat of the EAC and regional integration in East Africa through a variety of programmes and projects. Germany's funding for technical and financial cooperation with the EAC has totalled about 176 million euros. It similarly provides substantial support for health sectors in EAC member states.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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