Imagine a world where life-saving medicines are easily accessible to everyone, no matter where they live. That’s the vision that drove the Intellectual Property Awareness Literacy (IPAL) Workshop, which took place in the vibrant coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, from September 23 to 27, 2024.
Hosted by KELIN in partnership with ITPC MENA, the workshop was a game-changer for advocates and stakeholders committed to breaking down the intellectual property (IP) barriers that keep essential medicines out of reach for too many people across Africa.
The workshop marked an important step towards building local capacity to address intellectual property (IP) barriers affecting access to essential medicines across Africa. The first three days of the event focused exclusively on representatives from African hubs, providing a robust learning platform on patent opposition, compulsory licensing and voluntary licencing. The participants gained practical insights into how to navigate intellectual property barriers that often hinder access to affordable and life-saving medications across the continent.
Other sessions welcomed community allies, extending the training to include discussions on intellectual property issues and access to medicine advocacy. This segment of the workshop allowed for hands-on exercises and practical application of skills, further building capacity among participants to become future trainers in their respective regions. Participants were also taken through on how to search patents from the different platforms to ensure informed advocacy.
The workshop concluded with a networking dinner at the Tamarind Dhow, providing an opportunity for participants to build relationships and discuss future collaborations.
KELIN celebrates the dedication of everyone involved in this incredible journey. The IPAL workshop wasn’t just a one-off event—it’s the start of a movement to challenge IP barriers, build local expertise, and promote health equity across Africa.For more information, please contact:
Duke Otieno
Advocacy Officer-HIV/TB
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