AfDB approves Sh8bn loan to E. African states
African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka speaks during a past function. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Project to help EAC’s 150m people access cancer and kidney treatment easily and cheaply
- The amount endorsed by the bank’s board of directors on October 3 will cover the first phase of EA’s Centres of Excellence for skills and tertiary education in biomedical sciences in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
The African Development Bank has approved $98.22 million (Sh8.3 billion) to finance bio-medical science programmes in East African Community states.
The amount endorsed by the bank’s board of directors on October 3 will cover the first phase of EA’s Centres of Excellence for skills and tertiary education in biomedical sciences in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
The project seeks to boost biomedical science skills to meet EAC’s immediate labour market needs, and support implementation of ‘free’ labour market protocols in the region.
Phase One of the project will support creation of a network of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in biomedical sciences and engineering— nephrology and urology in Kenya, oncology in Uganda, cardiovascular in Tanzania and biomedical engineering and e-health in Rwanda.
To deliver quality and relevant skills, research and service delivery, the CoEs will develop higher education programmes and collaborate with ‘world-class’ institutions in faculty exchange, mentoring, material access, and joint thematic biomedical research.
“The project is expected to enhance EAC’s competitiveness through a highly skilled workforce in biomedical sciences”, the Arusha-based Secretariat said in a press statement yesterday, adding:
“It will enable EAC increase its capacity and competitiveness through expanding higher education and specialised service delivery that are demanded by the rapid economic development in East Africa”.
The project will directly benefit the estimated 150 million EAC citizens through affordable quality, and accredited biomedical skills and tertiary education institutions and services.
According to EAC, the project has potential to create jobs for professionals and support services through medical tourism within the bloc.
The regional approach to a training leverages economies of scale and contributes to deepening regional integration.
The second phase of the programme will include the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoR) in Burundi to handle Nutritional Sciences.
The CoEs will create an opportunity for students from the EAC region, as well as Central Africa who are already training within the EAC, to access high quality postgraduate education.
The CoEs will take 150 students on postgraduate programmes (140 masters, 10 PhD) in addition to 300 trainees for short courses in Phase 1.
The EAC private sector will also benefit from a qualified and accredited relevant skilled workforce instead of relying on foreign professionals. The project will improve quality and reduce the cost of kidney, heart and cancer treatment.
At least 100,000 EAC citizens seek these services abroad each year, the bank’s statement added.
The bank’s financing represents 91.05 per cent of the total of the project.
The project is estimated to cost US$107.81 million (Sh96 billion), with the four governments expected to provide US$8.97 million.
