President William Ruto, speaking at the ratification ceremony held at IVI’s headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, emphasized that joining IVI bolsters Kenya’s goal of achieving self-reliance in vaccine production. During the event, he raised the Kenyan flag and the National Anthem was played.
President Ruto highlighted that greater vaccine availability would improve Kenya’s primary healthcare delivery and support disease prevention efforts. He noted that the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need to reduce dependency on external vaccine manufacturers.
“It is time for Africa to achieve health sovereignty by freeing itself from unsustainable dependencies and accelerating self-sufficiency in vaccine production,” he stated.
The President stressed the importance of making vaccines universally accessible, regardless of nationality or status, noting that global safety depends on widespread vaccine availability.
President Ruto expressed gratitude to IVI for its plans to establish a country and project office in Nairobi, which he said would support Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage agenda and promote vaccine production self-reliance in Africa.
“This partnership aims to strengthen our health systems by ensuring security through research, development, and manufacturing,” he said.
Additionally, President Ruto mentioned a tripartite agreement between IVI, the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. This collaboration will enhance the continent’s capacity for cutting-edge research and training, leading to a more resilient healthcare system.