Sodiq Ojuroungbe
A drug manufacturing company, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, has underscored the need for urgent and effective interventions in malaria and other infectious diseases.
While acknowledging that malaria poses a significant health risk due to its prevalence in Nigeria, the pharmaceutical firm expressed its commitment to fighting the scourge.
In a statement marking this year’s World Malaria Day, titled, ‘Pioneering the Fight Against Malaria in Nigeria and Beyond’ its Executive Director, Uzoma Ezeoke, emphasised the urgency of the situation.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that the 2024 World Malaria Day was commemorated on April 25, with the theme, ‘Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world’.
According to the World Health Organisation, malaria is a life-threatening disease with mild or life-threatening symptoms such as fever, cold, headaches, fatigue and difficulty in breathing, among other symptoms.
The WHO noted that the disease burden is about 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths in 85 countries as of 2022.
The global health body stressed that Africa carries a high incidence rate of the global malaria burden with about 233 million cases and 580,000 deaths recorded annually.
Ezeoke said Emzor Pharmaceutical Company is embarking on extensive research and development efforts in combating malaria in Nigeria and other African countries.
He noted that the range of antimalarial drugs manufactured by Emzor has proven instrumental in saving lives and reducing the burden of the disease.
“Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has grown to become a formidable force in the long-lasting fight against malaria, from producing medicines to prevent and treat malaria to supporting public health programs targeted at malaria education and elimination,” the statement reads partly.
The company’s director also revealed that the ongoing construction of their $23M Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients facility in Shagamu, Ogun state, would completely change the face of malaria indices in Nigeria and Africa.
Ezeoke added, “This iconic facility represents a trail-blazing milestone in the company’s journey, enabling the local production of critical pharmaceutical ingredients; artemether, lumefantrine, sulfadoxine, and pyrimethamine, essential for antimalarial drugs manufacturing.
“One of the most striking aspects of this venture is its critical role in fortifying the antimalarial supply chain.
“Malaria, an endemic disease in Nigeria, presents a considerable health challenge, with the nation recording the highest annual count of malaria cases and fatalities globally, as indicated by the 2022 WHO World Malaria Report.”
He added, “Furthermore, this project carries a significant social benefit. It is geared towards combatting malaria, an endemic infectious disease in West Africa, responsible for approximately 60 per cent of outpatient attendance and nearly 30 per cent of all hospital admissions in Nigeria.
“Besides fulfilling the vital need for essential medicines, this initiative also supports the expansion of pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in the region. This expansion has a spill-over effect, fostering knowledge transfer and creating opportunities for nurturing and retaining talents and skills in the region.
“Importantly, it aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure longer and healthier lives for all. The local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients promises to protect millions of people in Africa from disease and disability.”
According to Ezeoke, the project puts financial inclusion and the health of pregnant women at the forefront.
“As a substantial portion of health and care workers in Sub-Saharan African countries are women, this initiative could empower them and contribute to enhancing their roles within their respective societies, thus addressing gender inequality.
“The development of this world-class API manufacturing facility in full compliance with international standards, will be the first of its kind in the sub-Saharan African region and upon completion, will be churning out 400 metric tonnes of quality APIs yearly which will accelerate the fight against malaria in Africa,” she said.
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