The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director, Dr. Erin Holleran, has presented Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, a certificate of accreditation from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for quality control on behalf of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD).
The NIPRD facility, which is responsible for pharmaceutical research and development of local phyto-medicines in Nigeria, is the fourth laboratory in Nigeria to be certified by ISO – an independent international standard bearer – for quality assurance and first non-regulatory laboratory in the country to receive the certification.
Speaking at the event, Holleran said, “USAID has long supported the Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing sector to ensure it meets international best practices.
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“We hope that this accreditation will open up new opportunities for research into quality medicines and increase public confidence in the medicines manufactured, prescribed, and sold in the country.”
The support is the latest example of USAID’s contribution to maintaining the quality of medicines in Nigeria.
Nigeria is among 35 countries that receive technical and financial assistance to regulatory authorities to safeguard the quality of medicines, with a particular focus on treatment of malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.
The accreditation will not only avail Nigeria with the capacity to improve the quality of medicines it produces, but also enable it carry out research and develop local medicines in accordance with internationally accepted standards.