*Juhel unveils world class products

By Chioma Obinna

AS Nigeria weekend witnessed the unveiling of the first-ever infusions and other Parenteral products manufactured under a carbon copy of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) Dr. Paul Orhii has disclosed that no Nigeria pharmaceutical company has WHO GMP certfication.

Orhii who disclosed this while formally unveiling and endorsing the infusions and other Parenteral products locally manufactured by an indigenous Pharmaceutical company, JUHEL Nigeria Limited in Lagos said the completion of the world class factory marked a good beginning in the country’s pharmaceutical industry.

• The practical demonstration of Anti-Counterfeitting Technologies for regulated products in Nigeria by Sproxil Nigeria Ltd and GlobalpCCA/Verification Technologies Ltd in conjuction with NAFDAC took place in Lagos recently. Dr. Paul Orhii, Director General, NAFDAC (right) displays one of the devices supported by Mrs. Ariz Madukwe, Director Regulatory Affairs (centre) and Mrs. Stella Denloye, Director, Laboratory Services look on. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye .

According to him, “With the standard the company had followed right from the inception of the factory, there is every indication that the company would be the first in the Continent of Africa to have a WHO -GMP qualification.”

Orhii who hinted that discussions are already on with WHO regarding the certification of the company pledged that NAFDAC would do all in its power to ensure that the certification is fast-tracked.

Orhii explained that Nigeria has been losing out from donor agencies for lack of companies with WHO GMP qualification said that with more of such companies in place, many donor agencies would be forced to purchase products from Nigeria for onward distribution to other countries of the world.

His words, “I was worried about this until JUHEL put an urgent call to me saying they wanted to put up something like this. NAFDAC stepped in immediately until completion. These products are world class now, The company is now ready for certification by WHO which will happen very soon. If this happens, this company will be the first in the continent of Africa to have WHO-GMP certification and this will encourage donors like Global Fund to buy their products from Nigeria, thereby boosting our industry as well as economy.”

Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. John Akanya stated that the company had the most advanced technology in the world today.

“With these quality products now manufactured in Nigeria, we are going to scrap almost every other product that will compete in this range in the Nigeria market. This is in order to protect these particular quality items”

We are currently fighting Chinese products that are injuring people here in Nigeria. I have seen children wound due to poor syringes. SON and NAFDAC have been with this company right from the inception and we have seen all the ranges and their standards too. We are going to protect them.”

Chief Executive of JUHEL Nigeria Limited, Pharm. Ifeanyi Okoye who expressed worry over the production of parenterals under non GMP condition said it could be harmful.

Okoye announced that  today, Nigeria can boast of a carbon copy of a German WHO-GMP certified infusion production factory.

Explaining that the factory was purely Nigeria, he said the Parenteral Division of JUHEL produces infusions, injections, eye/ear drops, dialysis fluids and most products that go into the body directly without passing through the mouth.

The Chairman of the occasion and Former Minister of  Industry, Dr. Kola Jamodu who stressed that the government should create enabling environment for the company to thrive, also charged the authorities to urgently intensify efforts against smuggling and counterfeiting as it has serious effects on manufacturing companies as well as health implications on the health of Nigerians.