Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to collaborate in order to enhance health results in the two East African countries.
Speaking during the meeting, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said it was important for the two countries to work together and address emerging health threats especially after DRC joined the East African Community.
“We have been working closely from a regional approach. As Ministers for Health, we have been holding meetings as Kenya chairs the EAC council of health ministers. We will cooperate in all areas of medical care,” said the CS.
The meeting between Kagwe and his DRC counterpart Jean-Jacques Mbungani Mbanda today resolved to establish a technical team to develop guidelines on how best to enhance the partnership.
He stated that local solutions to the region’s health concerns were required, and that Kenya had already launched a number of projects to address current gaps.
Kenya has already launched the Kenya Biovax Institute, with Moderna Inc, an American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, scheduled to set up a vaccine manufacturing facility in the country, as part of the country’s journey to human vaccine self-sufficiency and to address the country’s vulnerability to future health emergencies.
Mbanda noted the two countries needed to work together to address existing health issues.
“Although we have been taken hostage by Covid-19, we should not forget other diseases such as malaria and HIV and we need to think how we can work together around these as well,” said Mbanda.
