ZNPHI, Director General Professor Roma Chilengi- says there is need to create a more conducive environment for research development in the continent.
Professor Roma Chilengi- who is also the Health Advisor to the President said during the Africa centre for Disease Prevention (Africa CDC) workshop strengthening the bio- banking network in Africa.
Prof said with the biobanking network across the continent, researchers will help be able to set up their own drugs and vaccines and develop diagnostic tests.
And Africa CDC regional Coordinator Dr. Lui Riek said the Africa CDC was committed to to implementing the Lusaka Declaration of Bio- banking network.
The Coordinator added that Africa CDC will support the member states in building resilient health care systems that can respond on time to any health threats including to the bio banking initiatives.
Africa CDC head division Laboratory Systems Yenew Kebede said the formation of the network will enable African Countries to start keeping biobanks to facilitate research and development in manufacturing of diagnostics drug trials.
He said in the next two (2) years Africa CDC expects each of the participating countries to have a strong standardized bio- bank.
The meeting which brought together scientists from eight countries from North, West, Central, East and Southern Africa was aimed at initiating an agreement to come up with network which will set up their bio- banks in Africa.
