Burundi Refugee Camps in Tanzania and Rwanda to benefit from Donations of Medicines and Health Supplies
The East African Secretariat has received a donation of various essential medicines and health supplies from the Federation of East African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FEAPM) for emergency humanitarian assistance to Burundi refugees’ camps in Kigoma region of Tanzania and Eastern Province of Rwanda.
Dr Dhirendra Shah, FEAPM Chairman, accompanied by Dr Ashvin Pandya, Member of the Board of the Federation, handed over the first consignment of medical supplies to Hon. Jesca Eriyo, EAC Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors. The handing over ceremony took place at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, on the sidelines of the ongoing 32nd meeting of the Council of Ministers, the EAC Policy Organ.
“We are very grateful to FEAPM for today’s donation, as these medicines are badly needed over at the refugee camps in Tanzania and Rwanda”, said Hon. Eriyo, adding that “this is a good partnership we have started, and through this relationship, we will encourage citizens to purchase medicines locally so as to boost the East African Pharmaceutical sector”.
The emergency medical support came from a team effort of fourteen pharmaceutical manufacturing companies from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
The medical supplies will go towards treating Burundi refugees suffering from cholera outbreaks and other outbreaks of various communicable diseases at camps in Kigoma, Tanzania and the Eastern Province of Rwanda.
“We are very pleased to have donated medicines for a good cause as we are always there whenever there is a crisis; in the past, we come to the aide of the crisis in Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, and now Burundi”, said Dr Shah. “We promise to continue providing humanitarian assistance for the people of East Africa”, he said.