Boehringer Ingelheim, a leading international pharmaceutical manufacturer is to begin supplying Rwanda with Nevirapine, the drug that can prevent mother-to-child transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus.
This was announced on Tuesday afternoon during a visit by President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame to the Boehringer Ingelheim headquarters at Ingelheim in Rhineland Palatinate.
Boehringer Ingelheim currently has 36 pilot projects in 22 countries for Nevirapine. The drug, though still on trial, has proved effective in preventing HIV transmission from mother to child in tests across Africa.
Boehringer Ingelheim has an annual turnover of 7.5 billion Euro. Of this, Nevirapine only accounts for 5% of the business. The majority of the business, 37%, is in respiratory drugs. Boehringer Ingelheim spends 1.1 billion Euro on research and development each year.
President Kagame was received and taken around the manufacturing plant by the Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of the company, Prof. Dr. Rolf Krebs. Following the tour of the plant, President Kagame and members of the Rwanda delegation held discussions with the management of Boehringer Ingelheim about how to strengthen cooperation, particularly by enhancing the capacity of Rwanda's small-scale pharmaceutical manufacturers.
President Kagame expressed the appreciation of the people of Rwanda for the assistance being extended by the pharmaceutical company. He said that the problem of HIV/AIDS is great and requires broad support from both the public and private sectors.
On Tuesday morning, President Kagame held extensive and wide-ranging discussions with the Rhineland Palatinate cabinet chaired by the Minister President, H.E. Kurt Beck. The talks focussed on how to deepen the Rwanda - Rhineland Palatinate partnership in the third decade.
President Kagame also met the President of the Rhineland Palatinate Landtag (State Parliament), H.E. Christoph Grimm, the Vice-Presidents of the Landtag and other senior parliamentarians.
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