The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in the Volta Region has appealed for support to expand its vaccine research and development capacity, to help secure Ghana’s vaccine self-sufficiency.

The University which is solely dedicated to advancing healthcare delivery seeks intervention in the areas of logistics, and animal and clinical facilities to advance its vaccine development agenda.

The Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Prof Lydia Aziato appealed when a team from the National Vaccine Institute, German Development Corporation (GIZ), UNIDO, and the European Union (EU) paid a working visit to the University.

The visit was to enable the team to have firsthand knowledge of the vaccine development capacity of the University.

The team toured the multipurpose Lab Complex which is under construction and the Simulation Center at the Phase II site.

Prof Lydia Aziato asserted that the University has the human resource capacity to undertake research and develop vaccines but lacks the necessary logistics.

“The University of Health and Allied Sciences is dedicated to training health professionals and also we have very very experienced researchers in the area of vaccine development", she said.

He emphasized a partnership that would see the provision of the relevant logistics and support would enable the University to have a full-fledged vaccine research and development center.

“Personally, as a Vice Chancellor, I am calling on other partners to come in and partner with us, because UHAS, we have very very great potential within the health space. We have attracted very very good professors from across the world and we have the necessary human resources and a peaceful environment for research to be done”, she said.

She, however, advocated for some urgency to be attached to her request to enable the researchers to transfer their knowledge to the young ones before fading out of service, as most of them are time-bound.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tetteh explained that the visit was in aid of mobilizing local resources to help Ghana develop and manufacture its vaccine.

He said this was imperative as Ghana would attain middle-income status by 2030 and would no longer qualify for the supply and distribution of vaccines from external donors.

“Currently, the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiatives accounts for about 80% of the cost and distribution of vaccines that are used for Ghana’s Immunization Programs. And because we are going to attain middle-income country status, by 2030 we go off that program which means that Ghana has to cough up the money to be able to do that.

“This is why Ghana has taken up the initiative of setting up a vaccine institute to promote local manufacturing of vaccines. So, it sort of accelerated the need for the work that we are doing. It means that we have to do a better job. Mobilize resources that are needed to assist the local manufacturers to be able to do it”, he said.

He appreciated the progress of UHAS, in setting up a lab, and a simulation center and assembling the needed human resources in vaccine research and development.

He asserted UHAS’ crucial role in advancing Ghana’s course to manufacturing its vaccines and called on the relevant institutions and funding agencies to consider investing in the University.

”The entire team is impressed with the work that UHAS has done so far. I am hoping that more of the funders will come together, and work with us to be able to give UHAS the support that they need to be able to fully take things to the next level”, he said.

Representatives from the German Development Corporation (GIZ), UNIDO, the European Union and UNIDO promised their support to UHAS’ vaccine development initiative.