TUNIS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Health Minister Ali Mrabet said the World Health Organization (WHO) supports Tunisia's efforts to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine locally, the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) reported Tuesday.
During the meeting with WHO representative in Tunisia Ibrahim Zik, Mrabet promised that his ministry "is working in partnership with all the parties involved to make the vaccine project a success in Tunisia with the WHO support."
The two also discussed the ways to combat tobacco consumption and addiction in Tunisia, the TAP report said.
For his part, Zik reaffirmed WHO's support for Tunisia and its determination to pursue all bilateral health partnership programs.
On Feb. 18, Tunisia was selected as one of the first six African countries to receive the technology needed to produce their own mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines under a scheme led by the WHO.
Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa are the five other African countries to join the WHO scheme. ■
