By Rachael Abujah
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has launched the African Manufacturing Market Intelligence and Network Analysis (AMMINA) platform, a data-driven initiative designed to strengthen Africa’s health products manufacturing ecosystem.
The Africa CDC, during the launch on Saturday via webinar, said that the platform also aimed to promote regional health sovereignty across the continent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the launch took place during the African Healthcare Manufacturing Trade Exhibition and Conference (AHMTEC) in Accra, Ghana.
The launch underscores Africa CDC’s commitment to advancing local production, innovation and investment in the continent’s health sector.
AMMINA is developed under the custodianship of the Africa CDC and building on an initial curation by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
It is to provide comprehensive and actionable insights into Africa’s health manufacturing landscape.
It captures data on manufacturers, production capacities, product portfolios and market dynamics across the continent.
According to Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, the platform marked a major step toward strengthening Africa’s health sovereignty through evidence-based decision-making and strategic collaboration.
“We are pleased to launch this landmark initiative. AMMINA represents a bold step towards making high-quality, reliable and accessible data available to our member states and partners.
“Africa CDC is committed to ensuring that AMMINA becomes a trusted continental resource to advance health products manufacturing, investment and policy decision-making across Africa,” he said.
Kaseya said in its initial phase, AMMINA maps data from more than 700 manufacturers and 2,500 health products across 18 African Union member states.
“The Africa CDC, in collaboration with partners, aims to expand this coverage to all 55 AU member states, positioning the platform as a continental public good governed under the African Union’s framework,” he said.
He said that the platform was expected to serve as a catalyst for intra-African trade, attract investment and foster industrial growth in health products manufacturing.
According to him, these are key drivers for achieving the AU’s goal of reducing dependency on imported medical products and securing Africa’s health future.
He said that the initiative would also enhance coordination among AU institutions, member states and private sector stakeholders to unlock the continent’s full manufacturing potentials and ensure sustainable access to essential health products.
NAN reports that Africa’s health manufacturing sector is transforming, driven by efforts toward self-reliance, innovation and regional collaboration.
Countries such as Morocco and Rwanda have advanced manufacturing facilities, supported by initiatives such as the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), which aims to meet 60 per cent of the continent’s vaccine needs by 2040.
In spite of the progress recorded, the sector faces challenges: limited end-to-end manufacturing, supply chain disruptions, energy constraints, and significant skills shortages.
Africa CDC’s AMMINA platform now provides actionable data on manufacturers, capacities, and products, helping member states, investors and partners make informed decisions.
Key initiatives include building Regional Capability and Capacity Networks (RCCNs) to develop workforce skills and enhance research, addressing gaps in human resources.
It equally targets continued investment, infrastructure development and regional collaboration as critical to achieving Africa’s goal of health sovereignty. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Augusta Uchediunor/Francis Onyeukwu
