Zambia Signs MoU With China To Build First Cholera Vaccine Plant

Zambia has signed an agreement with China to build the country’s first cholera vaccine manufacturing plant. The project will cost $37 million for its first phase, and the plant is expected to produce around three million vaccine doses.

The agreement was made between Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and China’s Jijia International Medical Technology Corporation.

During the signing ceremony at State House in Lusaka, the country’s capital, President Hakainde Hichilema said the new plant would help Zambia combat cholera, which has been a persistent problem, especially during the rainy season. He added that the vaccine would not only save lives but also improve productivity by reducing the impact of the disease.

It will be recalled that earlier this year, Zambia battled a cholera outbreak that started in October 2023, prompting schools to shut down for three weeks as churches were forced to limit worship sessions to two hours. Also, Nigeria is another country that is currently battling an outbreak, with over 10, 800 suspected cases and 359 deaths recorded across the nation.

In his speech, Hichilema noted that the partnership would benefit not just Zambia but other African countries as well.

He added that China would donate three million doses of the cholera vaccine ahead of the plant’s opening.

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