By Our Reporter
The consistent efforts of the Federal Government through the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) to ensure vaccine security in the country through local production is yielding the desired results.
This is even as the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has formally unveiled the National Plan for Vaccine Research, Development and local production.
The plan was comprehensively developed from an innovative bottom-up approach for proper implementation.
The collaboration between the European Union, the Bulgarian Government, and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), made the unveiling possible.
While unveiling the plan in Abuja, recently, Dr. Alausa noted that the outcome of these efforts was highly desirable to complement the National Vaccine Policy.
Speaking on the proposed impact of the project on the operationalisation of vaccine development in the country, the Minister explained that the National Plan will serve as a template to guide the end-to-end production of vaccines.
Dr. Alausa applauded the efforts of NIPRD for taking the lead in this initiative, as well as local and international partners for supporting Nigeria’s efforts in this thematic area.
“I will commend you, even as you have now moved to support the next phase of this project, which will lead us to look at domesticating vaccine production,” Dr. Alausa said.
In his remark on behalf of the Bulgarian Government, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Dr Yanko Yordanov, commended the Ministry of Health for the opportunity to be part of what he christened “this critical health initiative.”
He, however, assured of his Government’s continuous support and partnership towards the contextual exploration of high-level research activities in Nigeria.
On her part, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) H.E. Amb. Samuela Isopi, commended NIPRD for the timely intervention and its efforts at ensuring that Nigeria becomes a hub of production of medicines in the African sub region.
Represented by Prof Ben Amor Mathieu, Amb. Isopi reiterated the strong alignment of the Plan with the priorities of the European Union.
Earlier in his remark, the Director General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, assured that with the relevant support and prioritisation, the Institute could midwife the establishment of up to three vaccine plants in Nigeria within the lifespan of the plan.
He commended the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for having confidence in the Institute and also giving it all the necessary support to perform optimally in the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
