Zambia, China partner to establish Africa’s first cholera vaccine plant

Zambia has signed a landmark agreement with China’s JIJIA International Company Limited to establish the first cholera vaccine manufacturing plant in Africa.

The agreement, signed with Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), was part of the Zambia Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Initiative, supported by Shanghai United Cell Biotechnology Company.

President Hakainde Hichilema, in a statement on his official Facebook handle said the initiative aligned with Zambia’s role as a Global Cholera Champion, co-sponsoring the Cholera Prevention and Control Resolution aimed at eliminating the disease by 2030.

He praised the partnership, emphasizing its potential to save lives, boost productivity, and benefit the global community.

“Cholera remains a significant threat to the Global South, impacting 1.3 billion people and causing nearly 95,000 deaths annually,” President Hichilema said.

He noted that Zambia was among the high-risk countries, having recorded over 20,000 cases and nearly 700 deaths during the 2023-2024 outbreak.

The President said the vaccine plant would serve Zambia and the wider region, marking a crucial step in Africa’s fight against cholera.

President Hichilema expressed his gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people for their support in making the project a reality.

IDC Chief Executive Officer, Cornwell Muleya, said the manufacturing plant would initially focus on the cholera vaccine but ultimately aim to produce vaccines targeting a broader range of diseases.

“It will also be producing all vaccines required under the extended immunization program,” Muleya stated.

The project which would cost US$37 million under phase one, is expected to produce 3 million doses of cholera vaccines.

The vaccine manufacturing plant would be set up in the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ).

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