Speaking on the side lines of the African Union (AU) And United Nations (UN) Conference, aimed at enhancing the sustainability of investment for vaccine manufacturing in Africa, Mr Umar said that the southern African region and Africa in general needs to become drug self-sufficient, especially for common diseases like cholera, polio, measles and yellow fever.
He mentioned that Zambia was well positioned as an inter-linked country with the potential of becoming a regional hub for drug manufacturing.
Pharmanova is currently in the process of setting up a state of the art, World Health Organization (WHO), US-FDA and European Funded Medicines agency approved facility which would produce life saving medication for the region such as antiretroviral drugs and vaccines.