N10bn PH Syringe Plant Begins, January

The construction of a syringe manufacturing factory estimated to cost N10 billion is to start in Port Harcourt in January 2011.

The factory named, Integrated Medical Industries Strategy Group, is an off-shoot of PAN African Health Foundation Auto-Disable Syringe Manufacturing Plant, Port Harcourt.

A Director in the company, Mr Amenya Wokoma told newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday that on completion, the company would every year produce one billion auto-disabled syringes.

Wokoma also said that the company would produce one billion needles, 120 million infusion sets, and 90 million infusion solutions annually.

He said that more than 65 financial and medical institutions from Africa, Europe, America and Asia were behind the project.

“We have secured export credit financing with the help of 25 multinational companies from Europe, America, Asia, Switzerland, France and Germany on the project.

“On the local scene, the Rivers State Government has invested N200 million for the preliminary engineering work and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are also interested in the project,” he said.

Wokoma said that chief executives of some of the supporting international organisations would be in Port Harcourt between December 7 and December 8, to sign an MOU on the project.

He said that the Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, would deliver a keynote address on ‘The Case for Local Manufacture of Essential Medical Supplies and Federal Government Support and Other Deliverables for the Project’, during the event.

The Tide gathered that Wokoma has been the Executive Secretary of the PANF auto-disable syringe plant jointly financed by the Rivers State Government, the Federal Government, NDDC and the Marubeni Corporation of Japan, now named Integrated Medical Strategy Group.

The PANF plant was initiated by the administration of former Rivers State Governor; Dr Peter Odili in 2001, and was completed by Gov. Chibuike Amaechi. It was inaugurated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Demeji Bankole on October 27, 2008.

Wokoma explained that with the expansion expected to last between 18 months and 24 months, 2,500 people would be employed as staff as against 150 currently on the payroll of the plant.

He told newsmen that more essential gain deliverable to Nigeria and other African countries by hosting the company was reduction in the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases.

“The World Health Organisation estimates that nearly half of all syringes are re-used in developing countries leading to 100,000 new infections of HIV and millions of infections of hepatitis B and Hepatitis C every year,” he said.

Wokoma said that with this plant, such problems would be checked.

Recounting his experience in operating a company in the Niger Delta, a region described by investors as high risk region, Wokoma said that indigenes of the region were industrious and friendly.

“Apart from the challenges of power supply, I feel doing business in the Niger Delta is quite encouraging because the people are willing to work in the few existing companies.

“And creating more jobs can help check the wave of insecurity and criminality in the region,” he said

Pix:

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, conferring with Director, Press Affairs of the ministry, Mr Dike Onyiji (middle) during the press conference on Rivers Brand. With them is Director, Public Enlightenment, Mr Paulinus Nsirim, at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.