NIGERIA IS MAKING BOLD STRIDES TOWARD BECOMING THE EPICENTER OF MEDICAL PRODUCTION IN AFRICA. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS ARE SET TO SLASH RELIANCE ON FOREIGN MEDICAL IMPORTS AND SECURE THE CONTINENT’S HEALTHCARE FUTURE.
THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF THE PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE FOR UNLOCKING THE HEALTHCARE VALUE CHAIN, DR. ABDU MUKHTAR, SAYS NIGERIA IS STEADILY POSITIONING ITSELF AS AFRICA’S LEADING HUB FOR HEALTHCARE MANUFACTURING THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND INVESTMENTS IN LOCAL PRODUCTION.
SPEAKING DURING THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF ABBOTT RAPID DIAGNOSTICS’ LOCALIZATION FACTORY AT AFRIMEDICAL MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIES IN OGUN STATE, DR. MUKHTAR DESCRIBED THE PROJECT AS A MAJOR MILESTONE IN NIGERIA’S EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH SECURITY AND EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
THEY REAFFIRMED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING LOCAL MANUFACTURERS THROUGH POLICIES SUCH AS ZERO-DUTY AND ZERO-VAT INCENTIVES ON SELECTED RAW MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT.
THIS LATEST COLLABORATION IS EXPECTED TO DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE TIME AND COST OF DELIVERING CRITICAL RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TESTS FOR DISEASES LIKE MALARIA AND HIV, NOT JUST WITHIN NIGERIA, BUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGION.
WITH CONSTRUCTION NOW OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY IN OGUN STATE, OFFICIALS SAY THE FACILITY WILL ALSO CREATE HUNDREDS OF SKILLED DOMESTIC JOBS AND ESTABLISH A NEW BLUEPRINT FOR PHARMACEUTICAL SELF-RELIANCE ACROSS THE REGION
