The government has reviewed preparations for an upcoming African Union summit on the local manufacturing of health products, with officials focusing on coordination and the expected outcomes of the meeting.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga chaired the meeting at Afya House with an African Union Commission delegation led by Secretary to the Commission Dalitso Dikirani Bonongwe.
The meeting brought together Kenya’s Deputy Head of Mission and Deputy Permanent Representative to the African Union, Amb. Petronila Were, representatives of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and members of the National Coordination Committee.
The officials reviewed progress in organising the Extraordinary African Union Summit on African Manufacturing of Health Products and discussed how the institutions involved could work together to prepare for the event.
Oluga said the summit would give African countries an opportunity to turn their commitment to health sovereignty into practical action.
He said this included improving access to essential health products, strengthening supply chains and reducing the continent’s reliance on imports.
In addition to the African Union Champion for Local Manufacturing of Health Products, President William Ruto, also received recognition for playing a key role in mobilizing political support for the effort.
The assessment session is part of continuous preparations being made by the Government of Kenya, African Union Commission, Africa CDC and others.
The objective of the effort is to boost local manufacturing of health products, health systems and health security in Africa.