EU Bequeaths Vaccine Production Machinery

Jan 23 , 2021

The European Union (EU) donated two vaccine-producing machines worth over 800,000 euros to the National Institute of Animal Health in Bishoftu city earlier this week. The United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) facilitated the handover of the machinery, which is meant to produce vaccines against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a contagious disease that mainly affects goats and sheep. The donation comes as part of an initiative undertaken eight years ago by the EU, the FAO, the Institute and the Ministry of Agriculture to improve the health and quality of livestock and individuals engaged in rearing livestock in the country. The machines are expected to relieve the current shortage of animal vaccinations in the country and contribute to the overall productivity of the livestock sector, according to Fikru Regassa (PhD), state minister of Agriculture, who took part in the handover ceremony.