Egypt's Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, received a delegation from the African Union on Wednesday to discuss strengthening ways of cooperation in supporting the health sector. During the meeting, the minister welcomed the African delegation during its visit to Egypt, to inspect the headquarters of the Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines "VACSERA" in Agouza and 6th of October City, where the visit lasted for two days to get acquainted with the company's material and human capabilities for the production of vaccines and serums. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, indicated that the minister discussed with the delegation aspects of future cooperation between Egypt and the African Union in the production of various types of vaccines and serums through the factories of the "VACSERA", with the aim of achieving local sufficiency within African countries. Abdel Ghaffar explained that the minister was briefed on the African Union's plan and the efforts exerted to improve vaccination rates on the African continent and to increase the manufacture of vaccines on the continent to meet 60% of the demand by 2040. He added that the minister appreciated the efforts of the African Union in strengthening public health systems with the aim of protecting the health and economic security of Africa, stressing the importance of providing support for the local manufacture in Egypt of vaccines and serums against various types of diseases, which can become a significant centre for providing the needs of the continent. The meeting was attended by Heba Wali, Chairman of the Board of Directors of VACSERA, and Mohamed Hassani, Assistant Minister of Health and Population for Public Health Initiatives.
