AU unveils Pan-African veterinary vaccine centre

In efforts to improve the livelihoods of African countries, the African Union Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU-PANVAC) has started work on its new laboratory complex in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.The laboratory is being built with the support of the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency (US-DTRA) with a budget of US$56 million.Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, emphasised the significance of this development for Africa&#039;s livestock, agriculture and overall socioeconomic progress.“It is an important day for veterinary science and livestock owners in Africa, as we are embarking on the construction of the new laboratory. I am convinced that the ultra-modern architecture of PANVAC&#039;s future laboratory complex will enable it to strengthen its position as a centre of excellence for research, development and technology transfer for the production of veterinary vaccines in Africa to protect the livestock on which so many of our communities depend," he said.Mahamat added: “Our vision goes beyond the walls of the laboratory. The AU-PANVAC will serve as a platform for collaboration, bringing together experts, researchers and policymakers from across the continent. By sharing knowledge and expertise, we aim to address the unique veterinary challenges faced by different regions, promoting a Pan-African approach to disease prevention and control to achieve our Agenda 2063 for the &#039;Africa we want&#039;.”Working togetherHe said the support by the US government is an expression of the shared commitment by the African Union and the United States to addressing common challenges in controlling animal diseases for sustainable livestock production for food security, nutrition and poverty reduction in Africa and beyond.Speaking to Namibian Sun shortly after the launch, the AU commissioner for agriculture Josefa Sacko said the vaccine centre will improve productivity and nutrition.“They don’t produce the vaccine, but they do audits of the vaccine laboratories on the continent. The laboratory will enhance the capacity of the centre to support the control of animal diseases. The new laboratory facility will enable AU-PANVAC to perform its activities according to international standards and best practices. This project will also look at capacity building through training and new technologies,” she explained.Sacko said the support of the US government is significant, as the continent needs to invest in research and strengthen the work they are doing.“Livestock is very important for revenue generation in our countries. This is a milestone."She said the centre will also serve to educate the member states on how to handle disease outbreaks in their countries.US Mission to African Union Chargé d&#039;affaires Mikael Cleverley said: “What I envision is not just food security but food abundance, and I know that working with the African Union we can achieve that."The centre’s mandate has expanded over the years to include quality control of all veterinary vaccines produced or imported in Africa and the production of essential biological reagents for surveillance of priority animal diseases.

AU unveils Pan-African veterinary vaccine centre

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-21

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AU unveils Pan-African veterinary vaccine centre

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-21

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