E. Moussa Faki Mahamat , Chairperson of the African Union Commission;

E. Girma Amenete, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ethiopia;

E. Dr. Fikru Regassa , State Minister of Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia;

E. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of African Union Commission;

AUC Commissioners and Director General;

E. Mikael Cleverly, United State Chargé d ’Affaires to African Union;

Excellencies, Ambassadors, Representatives of the African Union Member States;

Ambassadors of Canada, France and Spain;

Major General Kenneth Ekman, Director of Strategy, Engagement and Programs, United States Africa Command;

Robert Pope, Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction, DTRA;

Kingston Reif (SES), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction and Arms Control (TRAC) of the United States;

Representatives of International Organisations (EU, FAO, WOAH, ILRI, and WFP);

The Mayor of Bishoftu;

AU-PANVAC Steering Committee Members;

Head of Veterinary Vaccines Laboratories;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

All Protocol Duly Observed.

It is an honor and a great privilege for me to warmly welcome Your Excellency, Moussa Faki Mahamat , Chairperson of the African Union Commission to the African Union Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU-PANVAC). Thank you, Excellency, for finding time to attend this Groundbreaking Ceremony of the New Laboratory Complex of AU-PANVAC despite your busy agenda and the rigors of the just concluded Heads of State Summit.

I am also honoured to extend warm welcome and appreciation to all of you, Excellences, for being part of this milestone event. Your Excellency Girma Amenete, the Minister of Agriculture of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, thank you very much for honouring us with your presence.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Livestock production in Africa faces many challenges, including animal diseases that are a major obstacle to the efficiency and sustainability of livestock farming. It is an imperative that these diseases do not only affect animals, but are also a threat to public health, livelihoods and food security in Africa. 

Several methods are used for the treatment, prevention, and control of livestock diseases. In the African context, vaccination is the most appropriate choice for the control and eradication of animal diseases. It is, therefore, very important that the vaccines given to animals for disease control must be of very high quality.

AU-PANVAC is a Specialized Technical Office (STO) under the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) of the African Union Commission. It is based in Ethiopia, following the Headquarters Agreement signed on 8th July 2003 between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Union, during the AU summit held in Maputo, Mozambique.

AU-PANVAC was launched in 2004 and today we are celebrating its 20th anniversary. AU-PANVAC is presently the only Organization mandated by the AU to provide internationally independent quality control of all vaccines used in Africa. In addition, it has the mandate to produce and distribute essential biological reagents for the surveillance and diagnosis of animal diseases. 

The following are some of the achievements recorded by the Centre in its 20 years of existence: 

• First, AU-PANVAC played a major role in the eradication of the rinderpest disease.
• Second, AU-PANVAC is the only one of four global rinderpest holding facilities and the only one to hold both materials and emergency preparedness vaccines.
• Third, the centre is recognized as a World Reference Centre by the World Animal Health Organization (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
• Fourth, it is home to the continental vaccine bank which was established in 2018 to ensure emergency preparedness and response to any possible outbreaks of Rinderpest and other animal diseases in Africa.
• Fifth, AU-PANVAC tests more than 400 vaccine batches annually representing over 1 billion vaccine doses.
• Sixth, it develops diagnostic tests to support the continental eradication of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) which reduced the cost of testing small ruminants sera by 75%.
• Seventh, it provides regular training to African Union Member States (more than 2000 laboratory Scientist trained) and transfer of new vaccine production technologies.
• Eight, it is certified in Quality Management System and accredited for laboratory management system by international vaccine manufacturers networks.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Presently PANVAC operates from laboratories inherited from the Ethiopian Government in the seventies and scattered within the National Veterinary Institute facility. The existing facilities do not allow AU-PANVAC to fulfil its mandate adequately due to a steady increase in demand for services from AU Member States such as the quality control of vaccine batches, technical support, training and the number of diagnostic kits to be produced.

Today is thus a special day in the history of AU-PANVAC as we are moving forward with the launch of the New Laboratory Complex, which 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.

Your Excellency, the Chairperson, I would like also to recall your visit to AUPANVAC in 2018 when the Continental Vaccine Bank was inaugurated and the Rinderpest Eradication Monument was unveiled. At this landmark occasion, you stressed the critical role of livestock in Africa’s development and the wellbeing of its people. In addition, you underlined the African Union commitment to pursue and intensify its efforts towards the control and eradication of animal diseases on the continent. Finally, you commended AU-PANVAC contribution to the eradication of Rinderpest and the need to strengthen its capacity in support of the control of animal diseases. 

In 2018, AU-PANVAC together with US Defense Threat Reduction Agency “DTRA” engaged in the design of a New Facility Complex to provide a world-class laboratory and to ensure that all activities are properly implemented in accordance with best practices in biosafety and biosecurity.

DTRA supported the Basis of Design (BOD), which was handed over to my Office in 2019. During that ceremony, I acknowledged the huge support AU-PANVAC has received over the years from DTRA in capacity building for bio-risk management and particularly the design of the New Facility Complex. This is indeed the result of the transformative power of partnership between the AUC and the US Government. I also indicated that, our dream will be for DTRA to consider taking up the building as one of its continental projects so that we are assured that this building turns out secure as specified in the design.

Today I am glad to inform you that, as a response to the request made, the USDTRA is now committed to fully support the construction of the New Laboratory Complex. (They deserve a round of applause please!)

I would like to take this opportunity to again express my gratitude to US-DTRA for the continued support to AU-PANVAC and the AUC. 

I look forward to working closely with the US Mission to the African Union for making this project a great success.

Together, let us continue our journey to ensure good use of Africa’s own quality vaccines for the control of animal diseases and to add value to animal health and human lives.

I thank you for your attention. 

Merci beaucoup, Shukran, Obrigado and Muchias Gracias!!!