Nigeria has been conspicuously absent from the list of African countries poised to secure crucial World Health Organisation (WHO) vaccine prequalification, a significant revelation that underscores the nation’s struggle to bolster its health infrastructure. This omission, disclosed by the Africa Centre for Disease Control (ACDC), raises pressing concerns about Nigeria’s long-term health security and its competitive standing within the burgeoning biotech sector.
The ACDC recently announced that Egypt, Ghana, and Tanzania are on track to achieve WHO prequalification for eight vaccines by 2025-2030, a milestone in Africa’s pursuit of vaccine self-sufficiency. This development, while a beacon of progress for the continent, casts a stark light on Nigeria’s current predicament.
“The next five years will be critical in scaling up production and securing regulatory approvals to meet global standards in Africa’s push for self-sufficiency,” the ACDC stated, emphasizing the urgency of the moment. However, Nigeria’s absence from this pivotal list signals a significant lag.
Godwin Ntadom, national coordinator of the Malaria Elimination Programme, confirmed during a stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja, “The three manufacturers are not from Nigeria. They mentioned Egypt, Ghana, I think the third is Tanzania or so, but Nigeria is in the process of establishing also.”
We are not merely discussing statistics, but the very fabric of our nation’s health resilience. When we consider the implications of this, we are talking about the potential vulnerability of millions, especially in the face of future pandemics.
Ntadom, representing Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, assured that local manufacturing remains a priority. However, the current reality paints a challenging picture. Nigeria grapples with a dearth of manufacturing capacity, exacerbated by the non-availability of local raw materials, escalating production costs, and a persistent foreign exchange crisis.
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Drug manufacturers point to the absence of domestic petrochemical plants, crucial for sourcing essential inputs, as a significant impediment. This lack of foundational infrastructure creates a ripple effect, hindering the entire pharmaceutical supply chain.
“Nigeria lacks the capacity to manufacture vaccines and several drugs due to non-availability of local raw materials, high production cost and foreign exchange crisis,” Ntadom explained.
However, Ntadom also highlighted positive strides under Pate’s leadership, noting increased domestic production of essential medical supplies like nets and anti-malaria medicines. “The coordinating minister has ensured that all these factories are established in Nigeria,” he affirmed.
While these advancements are commendable, the stark reality remains: Nigeria is not yet positioned to compete on a global scale for vaccine production. This deficiency not only jeopardizes immediate health security but also hampers the nation’s ability to participate in the lucrative and strategically vital biotech sector.
The implications are profound. A robust domestic vaccine industry is not merely about health; it’s about economic resilience, national security, and the ability to protect our citizens in an increasingly interconnected world. The journey towards vaccine self-sufficiency is a long and arduous one, but it is a journey Nigeria cannot afford to delay.
