Trending 
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N9.99 billion for the procurement of antiretroviral (ARV) medicines for people living with HIV/AIDS and the upgrade of cancer treatment facilities across Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, made the announcement after the FEC meeting at the State House, Abuja.
Salako said the approval will address concerns over potential ARV shortages.
“Earlier in the year, there was some anxiety that Nigeria was going to run out of ARVs. With this approval, that anxiety is laid to rest,” Salako said.
The project has been awarded to Fidson Healthcare to procure ARVs under the Presidential Treatment Programme, which provides free drugs to millions of Nigerians, he disclosed.
“The project has been awarded to Fidson Healthcare, so that gradually, over time, the capacity to also be able to manufacture ARV drugs in-country can be enhanced,” he stated.
The minister added that the partnership with Fidson, which represents the global brand Hetero in Nigeria, aims to build local manufacturing capacity over time.
“One of the key elements of trying to drive local production is to invest. When you provide revenue, the government is patronising them,” he stated.
“That creates revenue, that creates a market, and then that encourages them to also invest in additional capacity. I can tell you that Fidson is working very hard to start local production of ARVs.”
The second FEC approval covers the replacement, upgrade, and training for cancer treatment in six cancer centres, one in each geopolitical zone, to ensure continued access to radiotherapy.
Salako said the upgrades are expected to improve access to essential cancer treatments across the country.
“This is to replace, upgrade and provide training for cancer treatments in six of our cancer centres, one per geopolitical zone, so that radiotherapy, which is an essential part of cancer treatment, can continue in these centres,” the minister stated.
On the Lassa fever outbreak, which has claimed the lives of several frontline health workers, Salako said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is actively supporting affected states.
“Lassa fever is a seasonal public health issue in our country. Nigeria is partnering and investing in the development of a vaccine, which we hope very soon can come on stream. But while we’re waiting, there’s a lot of effort in ensuring public awareness so that we can prevent it,” he said.
Salako urged health workers to follow standard safety protocols during the outbreak and disclosed that NCDC is providing additional materials and personnel to support affected states.
“We sympathise with health workers who lost their lives in the course of doing their duties.Unfortunately, this is part of the risk that we stand as health workers, just like a military man who goes to war. But we will continue to encourage and advocate that each health worker should ensure that they protect themselves when they attend to such cases,” he added.
