SPEECH BY THE CEO/DIRECTOR GENERAL, DR MICHAEL LUSIOLA,
DURING THE FIELD VISIT BY REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AT KBI HQ, ON FRIDAY 17TH MAY 2024, AT 9.00 AM
Distinguished guests
Members of staff
Ladies and gentlemen,
With immense gratitude and optimism, I address you today at Kenya Biovax Institute. As we gather to discuss the vital issue of health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience in Eastern and Southern Africa, I cannot overstate the importance of the support we have received from the World Bank. Their funding of the Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience Project (HEPRR) represents a significant investment in the region’s health and wellbeing. It is also a powerful statement of solidarity and commitment to our humanity.
The HEPRR project is a testament to the collective strength of stakeholders from across Eastern and Southern Africa, including governments, NGOs, academia, and the private sector. It is through their collaboration and commitment that we aim to bolster the region’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies. The project’s focus on empowering local communities and institutions underscores the crucial role each stakeholder plays in managing crises effectively, be it infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, or other health-related emergencies, through targeted investments in infrastructure, training, and research.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Central to the HEPRR project is our unwavering commitment to vaccine equity and accessibility. As a vaccine manufacturer, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of immunization in safeguarding public health. However, we also acknowledge the stark disparities in vaccine access that persist within and between countries. Through HEPRR, we are dedicated to tirelessly addressing these inequities, ensuring that lifesaving vaccines reach those who need them most, irrespective of their socioeconomic status or geographic location.
But our efforts cannot stop there. True resilience requires a rapid response to emergencies and sustained investment in strengthening long-term health systems. That is why HEPRR will prioritize initiatives aimed at building a more robust and adaptive health infrastructure, one that is capable of withstanding future shocks and crises.
As we embark on this journey together, let us remember that the true measure of our success will not be found in profit margins but in the lives, we save and the communities we uplift. Let us harness the power of collaboration to forge a brighter, healthier future for all. And let us never lose sight of the fact that our greatest strength lies in our unity in the face of adversity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we embark on this journey together, let us not overlook the weight of responsibility that accompanies the trust placed in us by the World Bank and our partners. We must use this funding with utmost wisdom and efficiency, ensuring that every dollar invested yields maximum impact. Our commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance must remain unwavering, as it is through responsible stewardship that we can truly honour the generosity of our donors and ensure the success of the HEPRR project.
In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the World Bank for their unwavering support of HEPRR and their tireless dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of people worldwide. Let us seize this opportunity to build a healthier, more resilient future for Eastern and Southern Africa and beyond.
Thank you.
MICHAEL LUSIOLA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/ DIRECTOR GENERAL