By Lincoln Munyendo

To build up a pool of skilled pharmaceutical production technicians, the German Chamber of Commerce (AHK) jointly with the Centre of Excellence in Pharmaceutical Innovations & Analysis (CEPIA) at USIU–Africa implemented a German model dual vocational training for the pharmaceutical industry in Kenya. The 12-month training comprised of 6 modules; theory, practicals and on-job training sessions concurrently delivered at USIU-Africa and Dawa Life Sciences, Regal Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Biodeal Laboratories Ltd and Elys Chemical Industries Ltd as factory sites.

Following its successful implementation, this was the first ceremony for the pioneer cohort of this program. The occasion that was officiated by Dr. Tom Menge and Dr. Nancy Nyeru from the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Dr. Susan Nakhumicha. In her speech read at the event, the CS applauded USIU-Africa for providing the much-needed academia-industry linkage to enhance the scale-up of research and innovations through a well-thought collaboration. She reiterated it is in collaborating with academic and research institutions like CEPIA that government agencies continuously inform and shaped policy, particularly in the implementation of Universal Health Coverage.

Mr. Christian Freidemann, Policy Officer at the Embassy of German in Kenya representing the project funding agency Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) reiterated commitment of German cooperation to support improvement of quality of medicines in the region by supporting capacity building of pharmaceutical manufacturing. He affirmed that through they would fully fund a further 1 year of the program for a second cohort of students.

Dr. Lincoln Munyendo – Director, CEPIA reported that out of the admitted 25 students, 12% dropped out of the program in the first quarter. Hence of those that attempted the final examinations, only 2 students did not attain the pass mark. Hence the implementation of the first pilot course achieved an 80% of participants complete the course with a certificate from Auslandshandelskammern (AHK).