COVID-19: Buhari tasks ECOWAS on vaccines, drugs’ production

President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined ECOWAS member states to increase their drive for self-sufficiency in manufacturing pharmaceuticals and vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases.

He gave the advice yesterday during the 22nd ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers.

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Represented by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, Buhari said doing so is important as “our vaccine rate is well below global average due to inequity in distribution.” 

He stressed the need for member countries to join in research and development of new products, especially in genomic sequencing.

He also urged them to embrace the global agenda of universal health coverage as a critical element requiring recommitment for increased people-centred investment in sustainable health development.

Buhari said this would strengthen health workforce, infrastructure and laboratory capacities within and across ECOWAS country borders.

The president of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean -Claude Kassi Brou said public health challenges in the region were colossal and the expectations of the population were very high.

He said it was by jointly showing commitment, innovation, determination and solidarity that the region would succeed in meeting them.