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First HIV/AIDS Drug Plant Takes Off By Godwin Haruna A significant milestone was recorded in Nigeria's healthcare system yesterday with the formal commissioning of the first anti-retroviral (ARV) drug manufacturing plant by the First Lady, Mrs Stella Obasanjo. Represented by wife of the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mrs. Eme Ufot Ekaette, the First Lady commended t owners of the company, Archy Pharmaceuticals Limited, for taking the fight against HIV/AIDS a step further. She praised the patriotism of the directors, who are resident in the United States, but responded to government's call to come home and invest. Also speaking at the event, Minister of Health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, said the commencement of operations at the plant was a step in the right direction on the roadmap for the re-positioning of the pharmaceutical sector of the economy. Represented by a director in the Ministry, Mr Kayode Omotola, Lambo said one of the objectives of the roadmap is that the nation's essential drugs including ARV would be met mostly from local manufacture and intensification of research and development efforts. "Increased availability of locally manufactured, qualitative, safe, efficacious and affordable drugs as are expected from Archy Pharmaceuticals and other local drug manufacturers will, no doubt reduce the incidence of fake and counterfeit drugs", he said. Also speaking on the occasion, Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. (Mrs.) Dora Akunyili said investors were afraid of coming to the country in the past because of the activities of counterfeits in the country's drug market. Akunyili stated that the sanitisation exercise in the country has impacted positively on the neighbouring countries, who are now receptive to drugs made in Nigeria. She advised drug manufacturers to register their products in the neighbouring countries since her agency was collaborating with them to cleanse the markets of counterfeits. She said her agency hiked the fees for registration of imported drugs in order to encourage local production and described the commissioning of Archy Pharmaceuticals as a personal fulfillment for her on the job. The Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented by the Health Commissioner, Dr. Leke Pitan. Who Are We ? | About THISDAYOnLine.com | THISDAY People | Contact Us © Copyright 2000 Leaders & Company Limited

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