DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – The Federal Republic of Germany has given a grant of 70 million euro for development cooperation within the East African Community (EAC). This happened in Dar es Salaam last week.

Some 30 million euro about. $33.4 million is committed specifically to the health sector.

A joint statement between the Federal republic of Germany and the EAC of which East African Business Week has a copy shows that in total 30 million Euros approximately $ 33.4 (Tsh.68 billion) will be invested in vaccines and health supply chain management.

The statement also indicates that earlier in 2015 Germany hosted the record replenishment of the Global Vaccination Alliance (GAVI) as a result an additional 300 million children will receive live-saving vaccines, including in the EAC.

“German bilateral cooperation will now provide 20 million euro (Tsh.44 billion) for the procurement of vaccines against different diseases for children in the EAC region,” reads part of the statement.

The programme will be implemented in collaboration with GAVI and this new commitment will bring Germany`s contribution to regional immunisations programmes with the EAC region to 60 million Euros (Tsh.132 billion) since 2012.

Inappropriate cooling systems result in high volumes of vaccines being wasted before they reach the people that need them and this is why Germany will also support the establishment of the EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Health Supply Chain Management in Kigali with 10 million Euros (Tsh.22 billion).

The Centre will strengthen capacities and foster the dissemination of innovation for managing complex supply systems for health products.

Source: East African Business Week

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