09 Dec 2021

Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has launched the 2021 - 2025 “le pelong ya Moleepi” strategy which charts out long term goals to bring the needed impact in the vaccine space.

With over 43 years’ experience in livestock vaccine supply, BVI agreed to introduce diversified product range to reduce over reliance on Foot-and-Mouth (FMD) and have four products contributing 40 per cent of their sales revenue by 2025.

Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, acting Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security Ms Beauty Manake said already Africa had many investment opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry for both livestock and human, which BVI looks to harness.

“Livestock from global population increase and the need for red meat protein is driving the developed world to look at Africa as reliable source of quality food,” she said.

She thus alluded that recent missions by Middle East countries across Africa looking for beef, mutton and chevron as well as live animal trade were testament to the growing global need for protein supply.

Ms Manake said BVI through the strategy’s tagline which translates to, ‘Where there is will there is way, was placed to benefit from this demand given its experience and the well-known strong customer service and support.

BVI chairperson Ms Mpho Mphafe-Fish said the new strategy sets  BVI for growth and sustainability.

“BVI will continuously improve its domestic offerings to better aid government’s efforts towards promoting the growth of the local livestock sector, especially nurturing small scale farmers in the small stock, poultry as well as communal and commercial beef sectors,” she said.

Ms Mphafe-Fish explained that their strategic intent does not mean they would abandon FMD, but would continue to be their premier offering with significant market expansion plans.

She said BVI had set its strategic goal to build Africa’s largest antigen/vaccine bank, having learnt from experience that delivery of vaccines under emergency can save or destroy an industry/sector.

In addition, the chairperson said COVID-19 pandemic had aptly shown that the World could no longer wait for vaccine manufacturer’s need to have mechanisms that expedited delivery of vaccines, as delays could have devastating effects.

“Naturally vaccine production is a process that takes time, therefore the ability to respond to emergencies is critical for the efficient protection of these sectors, both livestock and human,” she said.

BVI general manager Mr Andrew Madeswi explained that to optimize the current sustainable and growth profitability, BVI was setting itself for long term success through mutual beneficial relationships with partners and clients.

Mr Madeswi said BVI was looking to invest in areas that would catapult BVI to a leading player in vaccine research and development as well as manufacturing and sales in response to market needs.

He further stated that operational effectiveness and efficiency for attaining high performance culture would be met by ensuring that their work force was motivated and committed to drive the strategy.

Mr Madeswi said that their recent MoU signing with BUIST proved their intentions to develop and boost their research department to come with meaningful solutions particularly in relation to domestic animal vaccines including, the recently announced Newcastle vaccine production. BOPA