The Nigerian government says it would support the local production of anti retroviral drugs within in the country, to complement the availability of such drugs.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who disclosed this in Abuja, expressed Nigeria’s readiness to work with the United Nations in ensuring sustained treatment for the people living with HIV/AIDS.
“Certainly the capacity exists in Nigeria to be able to produce those drugs for Nigerians, and the whole of West and Central African countries. And we certainly can contribute to see how that happens,” the Vice President emphasized.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo made the disclosed in his office, while receiving the UNAIDS Country Director, Dr Bilali Camara on a courtesy visit.
The Vice President stated that the Nigerian government would explore the specific areas where it could support the pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria who are able to locally manufacture the HIV drugs.
He assured UNAIDS that the government would find the resources to fund healthcare, especially concerning the HIV/AIDS epidemic in spite of its challenging financial conditions at the moment.
Professor Osinbajo praised UNAIDS for keeping its eye on the ball and remaining focused in the fight against the disease, expressing hope that working together, both the Buhari administration and the UN would be able to achieve the HIV/AIDS eradication targets in the country.
Earlier, Dr Camara, who led a delegation from UNAIDS Nigeria office/Focal Point for ECOWAS, had informed the Vice President that about four Nigerian pharmaceutical companies had been chosen by the World Health Organization, as potential local manufacturers of the anti retroviral drugs.
“Once those companies start to produce the drugs, Nigeria would not need to depend on foreign supply and importation as is currently the case. That, in turn is expected to improve access to the drugs by those infected by the virus,” he said.
The UNAIDS Country Director requested the support of the Vice President as Chairman of the National Economic Council, to ensure an increase in domestic funding for AIDS, in order to sustain the national AIDS response and to end AIDS in Nigeria by 2030.
He also pleaded with the Nigerian government to maintain its commitment to reduce maternal and child mortality in the country.
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