CAMEG Implements Advanced Fire Safety MeasuresTogo’s Road Hauliers Advocate for Strengthened Ouaga-Lomé Corridor
OUAGADOUGOU – The Central Purchasing of Generic Essential Medicines and Medical Consumables (CAMEG) in Burkina Faso unveiled advanced fire prevention, detection, and extinguishing equipment on Friday. This move aims to enhance the safety of pharmaceutical product storage and mitigate fire risks. The initiative follows two fire incidents that compromised CAMEG’s storage capabilities, prompting safety and security evaluations across all its central and regional facilities. The assessments concluded that modernization efforts were essential for improving safety standards.
According to Burkina Information Agency, President of the General Assembly of CAMEG, the organization has undertaken measures to augment storage capacities and fortify the security of drug inventories at all company warehouses nationwide. The enhancements introduced at the Tengadogo logistics platform include the installation of detection and signaling systems, safety lighting, extinguishing tools, access controls, and surveillance technologies. The Minister Delegate in charge of Fisheries Resources, Amadou Dicko, representing the Health Ministry, highlighted that CAMEG personnel received training on operating the new devices to ensure preparedness for any fire incidents. Dicko also acknowledged the support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which facilitated these improvements.
The fire safety enhancements at the Tengadogo platform have been budgeted at approximately 787 million 743 thousand 984 CFA francs, with USAID contributing 542 million 113 thousand 038 CFA francs and the remainder funded by CAMEG. Alyson McFarland, USAID Representative in Burkina Faso, expressed pride in assisting CAMEG with the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and the strengthening of fire safety systems, aiming for a healthier future for the Burkinabe population. The focus on the Tengadogo warehouse, which boasts the largest capacity, was intended to maximize impact across the supply chain.
Dr. Anne Maryse K’haboré, General Director of CAMEG, stated that while fires are unpredictable, the risk can be minimized with proper precautions. She reassured that the entire CAMEG team, from storekeepers to directors, is trained to use the new equipment effectively. K’haboré emphasized that the security upgrade was implemented across all CAMEG sites, with significant investments made in the Tengadogo site due to its large capacity and critical role in the national medicine supply chain.
Colonel Daba Naon, commander of the national fire brigade, commended CAMEG’s initiative, underscoring the importance of self-generated security measures supported by public services. The completion of the USAID-funded project is part of a broader collaboration with CAMEG, which includes the lease and provision of a warehouse at the ZAD following a fire incident on November 28, 2021.
Ouagadougou – In a significant meeting held on Friday, leaders of Togo’s road transport sector convened with Burkina Faso’s Minister of Transport to discuss the enhancement of the Ouagadougou-Cinkansé-Lomé transport corridor. The discussion, led by Rémi Kodjo K. Kpadenou of the Togolese Employers’ Association of Road Transporters, focused on strategies to bolster the vital transport link.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting aimed at identifying practical measures to fortify the corridor, underscoring the importance of regional connectivity. The Togolese delegation’s visit is part of their participation in the 4th International Symposium on Transport and Logistics in Africa, Translog-Africa 2024, which explores the development of the global logistics chain amid the opportunities and challenges presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).