Ethiopia exporting animal vaccines to 33 countries in Africa, Middle East

Addis Ababa, June 25, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia is not only self-sufficient in animal vaccines but also earning foreign currency by exporting to 33 countries in the Middle East and Africa, according to the National Veterinary Institute (NVI).

NVI Vaccine Sales and Customer Service Team Leader, Debebe Shimekit disclosed that the institute has been producing animal vaccines and supplying them to both domestic and foreign markets since its establishment in 1964.

Today, it is one of the most well-known veterinary vaccine producing institutions in Africa with its multidisciplinary professional staff having long years of experience, he added.

The team leader pointed out that the institute has been playing a crucial role in safeguarding the health of livestock, which serve as a universal source of income for Ethiopian pastoralists and farmers.

According to him, the institute is focused on producing and marketing drugs to prevent diseases caused by bacteria and viruses in animals.

The National Veterinary Institute (NVI) produces and supplies 23 types of vaccines for domestic animals, including chickens, camels, dogs, and cattle, among others.

Debebe disclosed that the institute has exported 41.5 million doses of animal vaccines and supplied 292 million doses domestically in the past 11 months alone.

Ethiopia has not imported animal vaccination drugs for several years, effectively reducing foreign exchange expenditures, the team leader stated.

The NVI exports vaccines to countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman as well as Chad, South Sudan and other African nations with large livestock populations, it was learned.

Debebe further revealed that Ethiopia is the first country in Africa to establish an institution capable of producing essential medicines for animal vaccination, as reported by ENA.

The 60-year institute has the capacity to produce 350 million doses of vaccines annually.

The NVI actively engages in identifying livestock disease problems and seeks solutions through the development and promotion of research products. This approach aims to alleviate livestock diseases while safeguarding animal welfare and the environment.

Typically, the institute collaborates closely with national veterinary service delivery institutions as a stakeholder in the field.

It also partners with national and international institutes on various activities such as vaccine development and enhancement, vaccine production, pathogen identification and characterization, and technology transfer related to these areas.