(SeaPRwire) –   BASEL, Switzerland and NAIROBI, Kenya , March 19, 2026 — Axmed, the technology-enabled B2B marketplace that transforms access to essential medicines across growth markets, today announced a $7 million long-term supply agreement to facilitate the delivery of quality-assured medicines in Burkina Faso, backing the country’s participation in the Resiliency through Azithromycin for Children (REACH) programme. 

Over the coming three years, as many as 16 million doses of essential medicines will be provided to children under five throughout the nation.  

The partnership underpins a life-saving public health initiative focused on cutting child mortality from common bacterial infections. Every year, hundreds of thousands of children in sub-Saharan Africa lose their lives to infections that are both preventable and curable. Data from large, randomized studies—including the groundbreaking MORDOR trial—has shown that twice-yearly administration of azithromycin in high-mortality settings can significantly reduce all-cause child mortality, by easing the burden of infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, and diarrhoea. 

The REACH programme turns this evidence into action by delivering azithromycin to children under five across high-burden regions. Through this agreement, Axmed will help scale this intervention in Burkina Faso, aiding the government’s efforts to broaden coverage and slash preventable child deaths. 

Country-Led Execution Powered by Axmed’s Procurement Infrastructure 

Amid significant fiscal strain across global health systems, this partnership shows how technology-driven procurement can strengthen government-led health delivery. 

The agreement functions directly within Burkina Faso’s national health and procurement ecosystem, maintaining government sovereignty while unlocking global market access, competitive pricing, and quality assurance at scale. 

Axmed’s digital procurement platform consolidates demand, boosts market transparency, and minimizes supply chain fragmentation, enabling governments to obtain high-quality medicines more efficiently and autonomously. 

“Burkina Faso is showcasing what’s achievable when national leadership is combined with modern procurement infrastructure,” said Emmanuel Akpakwu, Founder and CEO of Axmed. “This agreement illustrates that even during fiscal constraints, governments can secure quality-assured medicines at scale—faster, more affordably, and with full control over procurement decisions. This is what sustainable, country-led execution looks like.” 

Efficiency and Quality at Scale 

By digitally consolidating demand and linking the REACH programme to a global network of pre-vetted manufacturers, Axmed’s platform is generating significant cost savings compared to prevailing market benchmarks, without sacrificing quality or regulatory standards. 

All medicines supplied under the agreement are approved by Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs) and sourced from manufacturers meeting the highest global standards. 

“In a fiscally constrained world, every dollar must work harder,” Akpakwu added. “By cutting procurement costs while maintaining the highest quality standards, we help programmes like REACH extend their reach and deliver greater impact.” 

Felix Ohnmacht, Chief Commercial Officer at Axmed, added: 

“Scaling up should never compromise safety or sovereignty. What we’re witnessing here is the rise of a new gold standard for global health procurement—one that gives governments real choice, transparency, and control, while making sure medicines delivered to Burkina Faso’s clinics meet the same standards as those in top hospitals worldwide.” 

A New Model for Global Health Procurement 

This partnership mirrors a broader transformation underway in global health procurement. 

The traditional model of fragmented, one-off purchasing is giving way to country-led procurement systems that blend transparency, competitive global sourcing, and reliable supply chains. 

As global health resources come under pressure, maximizing the impact of every dollar deployed is critical. 

By merging demand aggregation, quality assurance, pricing transparency, and coordinated logistics into a single digital platform, Axmed provides governments, funders, and implementing partners with the infrastructure needed to deliver health programmes more quickly, efficiently, and on a larger scale. 

About Axmed 

Axmed is a technology-enabled B2B marketplace and logistics platform that links buyers, manufacturers, and distributors to simplify procurement and delivery of essential medicines across low- and middle-income countries. 

By combining pooled demand, data-driven sourcing, and integrated international logistics, Axmed reduces costs, strengthens supply reliability, and expands access to quality-assured healthcare products. 

Learn more at www.axmed.com  

Media Enquiries: 
Nanayaa Appenteng, Director, Strategic Communications & External Affairs 
media@axmed.com  

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SOURCE Axmed