The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has commended Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited (Swipha) following the company’s attainment of World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification for its product, Sulfadoxine plus Pyrimethamine (SP) 500/25mg tablet.
The USAID team in Nigeria made the commendation when it visited Swipha corporate head office in Lagos. The USAID team, led by its director for Nigeria, Melissa Jones visited Swipha recently. The director was ably represented at the meeting by the Assistant Director Alexis Taylor-Granados. With the attainment of the WHO’s pre-qualification, the USAID team promised to patronise the Swipha products.
In August, Swipha recorded the feat of the WHO prequalification for its Sulfadoxine Plus Pyrimethamine (SP) 500/25mg Tablet for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy. Malaria, till date, remains a significant public health challenge in many parts of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where pregnant women and children under five years of age are most vulnerable.
Speaking during the visit, the Chief of Party, United States Pharmacopeia, a USAID funded programme, Pharm. Mopa Esuga, noted that the essence of the USAID visit to Swipha was to congratulate the company on the attainment of the WHO prequalification on its product.
He pointed out that USAID has been investing significantly to support pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria to produce quality medicine, adding that Swipha achievement is one of the expectations and outcome of USAID investment in pharma manufacturing in Nigeria.
L-R front roll: USAID Nigeria Logistics and Commodities Programme Manager, Emmanuel Ogwuche; Swipha’s Business Development and Licensing Director, Abbas Sambo; USAID Nigeria AG HPN Office Director, Veronica Momoh; Swipha’s Managing Director Frederic Lieutaud; Assistant Director USAID Nigeria, Alexis Taylor-Granados; Swipha’s Human Resource Director, Marcelina Iluke; USP Nigeria Technical Manager, Jonathan Ukwuru and USP Nigeria Regional Technical Advisor, Olanrewaju Balaja S, during the USAID visit to Swipha office.
“We are happy that Swipha has been able to achieve the WHO prequalification for its product. With this feat, donor organizations like USAID will be able to buy from the company. We however look forward to more pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria to achieve such a feat. This will help to improve the health outcome across the country and in the African Continent.
According to Pharm. Esuga, many pharma companies in Nigeria have started the journey of attaining the WHO prequalification for their products and hoping that one or two companies will achieve it soon.
He therefore urged pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Nigeria to pursue the basic requirements that will enable them to get WHO prequalification for their products. He specifically pointed out that what the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is doing in Nigeria is equivalent to that of WHO.
Speaking with Pharmanews shortly after the meeting, Swipha Managing Director, Mr Frederic Lieutaud lauded USAID for its support towards the advancement of pharma manufacturing in Nigeria. With the feat, according to Lieutaud, Swipha is the only company in the West and Central Africa to be prequalified.
According to him, all the prequalified products that donors like USAID have been donating to Nigeria and other Africa countries were being bought from Asian countries, but donors can now buy the prequalified products from Swipha.
“We are happy to achieve the feat, we are now waiting for USAID and other global donors to tell us their needs on SP. We can meet donors’ needs for Nigeria and other African countries. USAID has confirmed that they will order from Swipha”, Lieutaud said.
He added that Swipha’s overall objective for Nigeria is to increase health outcomes by providing quality products that meet WHO certification at affordable price, and to also save lives.
He appreciated NAFDAC for its support over the years and also urged the agency to keep supporting pharmaceutical manufacturers in Nigeria so that they will continue to produce high quality drugs.
Swipha’s Business Development & Licensing Director, Abbas Sambo stated that the achievement highlights Swipha’s belief in providing safe and effective medicines for all, particularly maternal and child health. He added that with the prequalification, Swipha is ready and actively seeking partnerships with global donors such as the Global Fund and USAID to combat maternal and child health challenges.
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