Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Ltd., a Nigerian indigenous company based in Ogun State, has achieved World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification for its 0.5ml Auto Disable (AD) Syringes, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced Wednesday.
This achievement marks a significant milestone not only for Nigeria but also for the entire West and Central African region, as Afrimedical becomes the first syringe manufacturer in the area to receive this prestigious recognition.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed the news at a press conference in Lagos, emphasizing the rigorous process, substantial investment, and technical support provided by NAFDAC that led to this accomplishment.
“This milestone aligns with the agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to promote local production of medical products,” Prof. Adeyeye stated. “It is with great joy that I announce that, after a rigorous process, the WHO has prequalified Afrimedical’s 0.5ml AD Syringes. They are now eligible for national and international procurement by relevant agencies and organisations.”
The WHO prequalification signifies that Afrimedical operates at an acceptable level of compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, making its syringes suitable for use in vaccination campaigns and other healthcare programs globally.
Prof. Adeyeye highlighted NAFDAC’s commitment to becoming a world-class regulator and its embrace of global best practices in medical product regulation. She also pointed to the agency’s “5+5” policy, introduced in 2019, which restricts the importation of medicines and devices that can be produced locally, providing further impetus for domestic manufacturing.
While in 2023 only three out of seven indigenous syringe manufacturers were fully operational, functioning at less than 20% of their combined capacity of 2.5 billion syringes per year, NAFDAC’s efforts, including attaining WHO Maturity Level 3 in 2023 and engaging with international procurement bodies like UNICEF, are aimed at bolstering local production and promoting patronage of Nigerian-made medical products.
Afrimedical’s General Manager, Mr. Gabi Al-Aridi, echoed Prof. Adeyeye’s sentiments, describing the WHO prequalification as a major achievement for the company, NAFDAC, and Nigeria. He praised the federal government’s support for local production and stated that Afrimedical currently produces approximately 1.8 billion syringes annually. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to high-quality, locally made medical products and encouraged Nigerians to embrace them to stimulate the nation’s economy.
NAFDAC urged other indigenous manufacturers to emulate Afrimedical’s success through collaboration and adherence to the agency’s regulatory guidelines, contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and medical device industry.