Pharmacist Onyekachukwu Victor Unanah, a rising star in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, has played a pivotal role in ensuring continuous access to essential medications during the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the pandemic, Unanah, currently serving as the Field Sales Manager at Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company specializing in diabetes care.

The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly for patients in need of life-saving medications such as insulins and biologics. However, through his ingenuity and leadership, Unanah led the charge in finding solutions to these challenges, ensuring critical medications reached patients despite the global health crisis.

Unanah’s visionary supply chain design was aimed at overcoming the severe disruptions caused by mobility restrictions, unreliable infrastructure, and electricity shortages. In collaboration with key stakeholders, including Worldwide Commercial Ventures Limited (WWCVL), the logistics partner for Novo Nordisk in Nigeria, and local health authorities, Unanah championed an innovative approach to ensure safe, timely, and equitable distribution of critical medications, especially in states like Delta and Anambra.

The Problem

During the lockdown, Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system faced increased pressure. Hospitals and pharmacies struggled to maintain stock levels of insulin and biologics, essential for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes. With mobility restrictions in place and unreliable electricity hampering cold chain logistics, ensuring these medications remained viable for delivery was an uphill battle.

His Solution

Victor Unanah’s solution was multi-faceted, clearly focusing on adaptation and innovation. He introduced a real-time demand forecasting and stock monitoring system using mobile apps, enabling pharmacies and hospitals to track medication levels, manage stock efficiently, and coordinate restocking in collaboration with Worldwide Commercial Ventures Limited. This strategy was designed to mitigate supply chain interruptions caused by COVID-19, ensuring that no patient was left without the vital treatments they needed.

A key component of this approach was the local mass production of insulated pouches—a solution directly addressing Nigeria’s electricity instability. These insulated pouches were designed to maintain the cold chain integrity of temperature-sensitive biologics during transportation, even in areas where electricity supply was unreliable. By working with local manufacturers in Delta and Anambra, Unanah provided a practical solution for cold chain logistics and contributed to local job creation and economic resilience during a crisis.

Delta State Government’s Support

The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, warmly welcomed Pharmacist Unanah’s novel ideas and his efforts to address the logistical challenges faced by the healthcare sector during the pandemic. His support for the initiative highlighted the importance of innovative solutions in responding to public health emergencies and helping improve healthcare delivery systems in the state.

Community Engagement and Public Awareness Campaign

As part of his commitment to giving back to the people of Oshimili South Local Government in Delta State, where his wife, Mrs. Awele Rita Unanah, a Registered Nurse at the Male Surgical Unit of the Federal Medical Center, Asaba, hails from, Unanah sponsored a COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the local dialect. The campaign was launched to address the inertia and skepticism about the vaccine, which had been fueled by rumors suggesting that it was a weaponized Western vaccine targeting the black race. Through this campaign, Unanah helped educate local communities on the importance of vaccination, alleviating fears and encouraging more people to protect themselves and others from the virus.

Innovative Distribution Network

Unanah’s plan also incorporated localized, community-driven distribution networks. By partnering with local health workers and health facilities, he ensured medications could be delivered directly to patient’s homes or nearby health centers with minimal contact. This approach not only helped patients avoid unnecessary exposure to COVID-19 but also optimized the use of local resources in meeting healthcare needs.

Telemedicine and Remote Support

To further ensure that patients continued to receive care during the lockdown, Unanah introduced telemedicine solutions, offering virtual consultations for patients in rural areas who might otherwise have struggled to access in-person care. Through these platforms, remote prescription fulfillment became a reality, ensuring that patients could continue to manage their conditions without leaving their homes.

Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

Unanah’s solution was not only effective in the short term but also built for long-term resilience. By integrating local manufacturing of insulated pouches, the supply chain became less reliant on imports, reducing both costs and environmental impact. Furthermore, the approach contributed to the development of sustainable healthcare solutions that can endure beyond the pandemic, positioning Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain to better respond to future crises.

Closing Health Disparities and Bridging Gaps

One of the key aspects of Unanah’s work has been his unyielding commitment to closing health disparities and bridging healthcare gaps.

By developing innovative solutions to improve the accessibility and affordability of essential medications, Unanah has demonstrated a profound understanding of the complex challenges faced by Nigeria’s healthcare system. His efforts, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, have set the stage for long-term healthcare equity, ensuring that underserved populations have access to the care and medications they need.

Public Awareness and Education

Understanding that effective healthcare delivery relies on more than just access to medication, Unanah also initiated public awareness campaigns. These campaigns educated both patients and healthcare providers about the importance of medication adherence and COVID-19 safety measures. By utilizing local media, mobile apps, and SMS platforms, he ensured that crucial information reached a broad audience.

Recognition and Legacy

Victor Unanah’s supply chain design not only helped Nigeria’s healthcare system weather the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic but also provided a model for other countries facing similar challenges. His work stands as a testament to the power of innovation, local collaboration, and sustainability in healthcare, ensuring that even in times of crisis, healthcare systems can continue to function efficiently, securely, and equitably.

Unanah’s giant strides have proven that with the right vision and collaboration, even the most challenging disruptions can be mitigated, and lives can be saved. His leadership in this endeavor has set a new standard in healthcare supply chain management, one that will benefit Nigeria for years to come.

Pharmacist Onyekachukwu Victor Unanah’s contributions have not only had an immediate positive impact on patients during the COVID-19 lockdown but also laid the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria.

His innovative use of technology, local resources, and strategic partnerships have made him a pioneer in the pharmaceutical sector, deserving recognition for his transformative work. Additionally, his unwavering focus on closing health disparities and making healthcare more accessible and equitable has cemented his legacy as a champion of healthcare innovation and community support.

Looking Ahead:

As we look to the future, where do we hope to see Pharmacist Onyekachukwu Victor Unanah in the next 5-10 years? With his relentless pursuit of innovation and a focus on closing healthcare disparities, Unanah is poised to expand his influence beyond Nigeria.

As healthcare continues to evolve with the integration of business and technology, we can expect him to lead initiatives that transform global healthcare access and business models, focusing on making medications more affordable and accessible through advanced supply chain systems, localized healthcare delivery networks, and sustainable business practices. His commitment to improving patient outcomes, advancing healthcare delivery, and supporting sustainable business will undoubtedly continue to make him a trailblazer in the pharmaceutical industry.