The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, in conjunction with the Nigerian private sector, is planning to build an antiretroviral manufacturing plant in the North East Nigeria. It plans to collaborate with local and international pharmaceutical companies, the National Medicines Regulatory Authorities and multilateral organisations toward achieving this goal.
According to a statement released, Africa imported 98 per cent of its antiretroviral drugs and two manufacturers dominate 71 per cent of the African market. This represents a significant risk as African countries look to scale up supplies of antiretroviral medicines, but it also provides an incentive to build domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and deliver economic dividends for the region.
“Nigeria has the second largest HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world after South Africa. There is a 3.2 per cent HIV prevalence in the general population and 3.4 million of its people living with HIV, with almost all its antiretroviral medication coming from outside the country.
“To address these challenges, countries across Africa need to scale up local pharmaceutical production and meet internationally-acceptable standards of quality and safety. However, until local production satisfies demand, countries also need to improve their procurement of medicines and related commodities in order to achieve sustainable pricing and stable supplies,” it said.
