The
Federal Republic of Germany, KfW Development Bank and the East
African Community (EAC) today signed Financing Agreement of 40 million
euros in total, to support regional immunization programme and
establishment and operations of the Regional Laboratory Network for
Communicable Diseases.
The
Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko
signed on behalf of the Community while His Excellency Egon Kochanke,
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Republic of
Tanzania and also accredited to the East African Community initialled on
behalf the Germany Government and Dr. Helmut Schon, on behalf of KfW.
Secretary
General of the EAC, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko and Ambassador of the
Federal Republic of Germany His Excellency Egon Kochanke signs the
agreement as Ms Lena Thiede, Counsellor / Head of Regional Cooperation
at the German Embassy in Dar es Salaam; Director of KfW Development Bank
Dr. Helmut Schon and EAC Deputy Secretary General (Productive and
Social Sector) Hon Bazivamo looks on.
·
30 million euros in financial assistance will be invested in
Immunization programmes in the EAC in collaboration with GAVI
·
Another 10 million euros in financial assistance will be used
in the operation of the Regional Laboratory Network for Communicable
Diseases consisting of mobile laboratory units located at national
reference laboratories.
This
new commitment will bring Germany’s contribution to fight child
mortality through immunisation programmes to 90 million euros since
2013. So far about 50 million of Rota Virus Vaccines, Pneumococcal
Vaccines and Pentavalent Vaccines have been financed in the EAC Partner
States. Implicitly, an equal number of children have been vaccinated
against the biggest killers of children, namely diarrhea and pneumonia.
The
Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko
having a chat with His Excellency Egon Kochanke, Ambassador of the
Federal Republic of Germany to the United Republic of Tanzania and
Accredited to the EAC.
Speaking
during the signing ceremony, the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat
Mfumukeko, thanked the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for
its support to the EAC. ‘’We have truly benefited from the German
support which has catalysed other development Partners to support our
projects and programmes.
Amb.
Liberat Mfumukeko underscored the assistance for the health sector in
the EAC reaffirms Germany’s status as a true friend of the people of
East Africa.
H.E.
Egon Kochanke, Ambassador said: “The new commitments underline that
Germany continues to be a strong partner for the EAC, contributing to an
integration process that puts the people in the centre”.
Amb.
Liberat Mfumukeko and Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany
pose for a picture after initialled Financing Agreement.
On
his part, the Director of KfW Development Bank, Dar es Salaam Office,
Dr. Helmut Schon said ‘’the support from KfW underlines the importance
we give to the East African Community’’ a regional approach under the
EAC coordination makes very much sense to address communicable diseases.
Accompanying
Amb. Kochanke was Ms Lena Thiede, Counsellor/Head of Regional
Cooperation at the German Embassy in Dar es Salaam, and Director of KfW
Development Bank, Dr. Helmut Schon.
Others
at the function were EAC Deputy Secretaries General (Finance and
Administration), Hon Jesca Eriyo; (Productive and Social Sector), Hon.
Christophe Bavizamo and (Political Federation), Mr. Charles Njoroge.
GAVI,
the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private global health partnership
committed to increasing access to immunisation in poor countries. GAVI
brings together developing country and donor governments, the World
Health Organization, UNICEF, The World Bank, the vaccine industry in
both industrialised and developing countries, research and technical
agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and
other private philanthropists.
Secretary
General of EAC , Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko signs the second agreement with
KfW Development Bank Director, Dr. Helmut Schon.
Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko and KfW Development Bank Director, Dr. Helmut Schon displays the Financing Agreement document.
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