Nation
NAFDAC Pledges Repositioning Nigeria To Manufacture Vaccines
The Director-General, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has pledged to make Nigeria a vaccine manufacturing hub.
Adeyeye also vowed to eradicate fake and counterfeit medicine by addressing glitches in the country’s medicine supply chain.
Addressing a Press Conference to mark her reappointment for a second tenure in Abuja, Wednesday, Adeyeye said as part of her strategic goals for 2023-2028 the agency would pursue the attainment of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Vaccine Lot Release ML4 to position Nigeria strategically for vaccine manufacturing.
Apart from ensuring good manufacturing practice of the Nigeria vaccine company, Adeyeye said NAFDAC would strive to attain the World Listed Authority (WLA) status that would enable global trade of Nigerian-made pharmaceuticals through collaborative registration with other regulatory agencies.
“We will seek to attain WHO ML4 and WLA status. Attainment will enable global trade of Nigerian-made pharmaceuticals through collaborative registration with other regulatory agencies.
“Local Pharma manufacturers to be more competitive in AfCFTA, attain Vaccine Lot Release ML4 to position Nigeria strategically for vaccine manufacturing and ensure good manufacturing practice of Nigeria vaccine company.
“We will essure quality, safety and efficacy of vaccines manufactured in Nigeria or imported,” she said.
The DG also pledged that NAFDAC would establish vaccine Clinical Trial Research and service pipeline for the local manufacturer while pursuing newer initiatives to boost the fortunes of the country’s drug manufacturing industry.
Adeyeye, who expressed worry over the persistence of counterfeit medicine in the Nigerian market, assured that the agency would in her second tenure pursue newer initiatives to monitor and sanitise the drug supply chain.
According to her, continual sanitisation of the supply chain units would mitigate counterfeits and fake products.
She further assured that NAFDAC would scale up the track and trace of imported and locally manufactured pharmaceuticals and establish structured and active tracking and tracing through solution providers.
To this end, the DG said the agency would initiate track and trace of foods to ensure that they are safe for consumption.
She also said the agency would mount continuous vigilance in order to reduce distribution of counterfeit medicines, and narcotics in the country
The NAFDAC boss also revealed other new interventions being planned by the agency including training of staff on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) regulation, developing NAFDAC-Industry API Manufacturing Regulation and enhance Research and Development Training Platforms with the Pharmaceutical Industry in the country.
Speaking on research and development, Adeyeye said NAFDAC would iIncrease collaboration with the academia on regulatory science training
In addition, she pledged continuous strengthening of regulatory activities and creative engagement of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
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