Tanzania livestock vaccine factory draws continental praise

COAST REGION: HESTER Biosciences Africa Limited, a state-of-the-art livestock vaccine factory in Kibaha, Coast Region, has earned high praise from a high-level delegation of vaccine regulators and directors of livestock vaccine production from 25 African countries.

The facility, hailed as a critical step towards ending livestock epidemics across the continent, hosted the delegates as part of the African Union’s PANVAC regional meeting held in Dar es Salaam from June 16 to 20.

The delegation toured Hester’s high-tech vaccine production facility as part of broader efforts to boost local manufacturing capacity and foster regional cooperation in animal health and disease control.

The delegation was led by Director of the African Union Pan-African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU-PANVAC) Dr Bodjo Charles.

Speaking during the tour, Director of the African Union Pan-African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU-PANVAC) Dr Bodjo Charles praised Hester’s investment as a strategic move with the potential to transform the livestock sector not only in Tanzania but across the continent.

“When we arrived and saw these buildings, we were very impressed and eager to see what was inside. After seeing the technology and infrastructure, we are deeply satisfied and proud to witness such a facility in Africa,” said Dr Bodjo.

“I am confident this factory will make a vital contribution to our efforts to eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), also known as goat and sheep plague, along with other livestock diseases. Our goal is not just to control PPR but to tackle all major animal diseases across Africa.”

ALSO READ: Fort Ikoma emerges as cultural landmark in Serengeti National Park

Dr Bodjo also commended Hester Biosciences for its commitment to high standards and innovation in vaccine production:

“Today’s visit has shown Africa’s growing internal capacity to produce livestock vaccines that meet international standards. We are impressed not only by the volume of production but also by the advanced technologies, quality control measures, and unwavering commitment to animal health. This is a major step toward self-reliance in the animal health sector.”

In her welcoming remarks, Director of Hester Biosciences Africa Limited, Ms Tina Towo Sokoine expressed heartfelt gratitude to the government under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan for the support during the factory’s construction and operational phases.

“We are proud to be part of the continent-wide effort to improve livestock health,” said Ms Sokoine. “This visit is proof that Africa can build internal vaccine production capacity that meets global standards. We are honored to be part of this history and remain committed to working with institutions like AU-PANVAC to eliminate deadly diseases such as PPR.”

Established in 2021, the Hester factory has already distributed vaccines to countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ghana, Mongolia, Nepal, and Israel—demonstrating its regional and global reach.

During the visit, guests were introduced to cutting-edge vaccine manufacturing technologies, including Chick Embryo Origin, Tissue Culture, Fermentation, and Continuous Cell Line techniques.

The facility is expected to generate up to 30 million US dollars (about 80bn/-) in annual revenue and provide 150 to 200 jobs as production scales up.

The AU-PANVAC meeting held in Dar es Salaam focused on harmonising vaccine regulation, production, and distribution across the continent, with a priority on eliminating PPR—a highly contagious disease that continues to threaten livestock and livelihoods in Africa.

Hester Biosciences Africa Limited, a subsidiary of India-based Hester Biosciences Limited, is one of Africa’s most advanced livestock vaccine production centres.

ALSO READ: Bukoba man sentenced to 30 years for incest

With an annual production capacity of 1.5 billion doses, the facility targets 27 animal diseases and manufactures 37 vaccine types for livestock including poultry, cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs. The total investment in the factory stands at 18 million US dollars (about 44bn/-).