Botswanas participation in todays launch of the Africa Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) in Paris, France, presents a valuable opportunity for the country to acquire technical expertise in vaccine manufacturing.
President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi highlighted this on the eve of the AVMA launch during a briefing session with the Botswana Embassy staff in France.
President Masisi stated that Botswana aims to leverage the AVMA funding instrument to seek collaborations in vaccine manufacturing. He expressed optimism that the longstanding bilateral ties between Botswana and France would yield substantial benefits in this area.
We need technical expertise, human capital, and legal knowledge. We are here to seek collaborations, driven by our diplomatic relations and historical ties with France, the President said.
During his visit to France, President Masisi will also engage in bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, discussing various issues including peace on the African continent and the new Botswana-De Beers diamond deal. He emphasized the importance of this deal, noting that France is one of the biggest consumers of Botswana diamonds.
Additionally, President Masisi will engage in conservation discussions with the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), an international NGO with a presence in South Africa and Namibia.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Lemogang Kwape, noted that President Masisi was in France at President Macron's invitation. Macron has been advocating for increased global access to vaccines, especially in the face of constant disease outbreaks.
Dr. Kwape stated that President Masisis participation at the AVMA launch aligns with Botswanas long-held aspirations to manufacture vaccines, particularly for preventable communicable diseases. A key focus of the AVMA launch is to identify countries ready to manufacture vaccines and enhance their preparedness to help counter the global disease burden.
Botswana has long maintained that it is well-positioned to start manufacturing vaccines, particularly for communicable diseases. The President is here to advocate for Botswanas inclusion among the countries to be facilitated for vaccine manufacturing, he said.
He added that Botswanas strategic location within Africa makes it an ideal candidate for assistance due to its accessibility. However, Botswanas classification as an upper-middle-income country often disqualifies it from many initiatives. Dr. Kwape emphasized the need to consider other factors, such as the impact of constant disease outbreaks on Botswana.
The AVMA, designed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, aims to reduce child mortality and preventable deaths through improved access to immunization. The June 20 launch is described as a step towards ensuring global health security by making vaccine access both universal and equitable.
While in France, President Masisi will also advocate against the ban on trophy importation, addressing the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in Botswana. The current CITES hunting quota of 400 elephants per year is insufficient to manage Botswanas growing elephant population, which stands at 130,000the worlds largest concentration of this species.
Botswanas ambassador to France, Mr. Mustaq Moorad, mentioned that President Macron has consistently called for empowering African countries to manufacture vaccines. So far, only Rwanda, Egypt, and South Africa have benefited.
After his engagements in France, President Masisi will proceed to Germany, where he is scheduled to address the German business community.
