NAFDAC Enhances Operations with $2.3 Million GF Grant

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is poised to strengthen its operations through the implementation of a $2,305,695.03 grant from the Global Fund (GF) Cycle 6. This grant aims to enhance capacity building and bolster NAFDAC’s role in safeguarding public health.

Additionally, Nigeria has secured an additional grant of $933 million from the Global Fund, designated for deployment from January 2024 to December 2026. This substantial funding will be allocated to address Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and resilience system strengthening programs, spanning a pivotal three-year period.

In a recent briefing held in Abuja, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, shared how portions of the GF grant were allocated. Specifically, $944,605 was directed towards strengthening the infrastructure of the NAFDAC ISO 17025 laboratory (CDCL Yaba). This enhancement equips the laboratory to conduct comprehensive analysis of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Tuberculosis, Malaria, and other disease program medicines. An additional $36,965 was invested in equipping staff with the skills and knowledge necessary for Pharmacovigilance (PV) strengthening and Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) monitoring.

Adeyeye emphasized the continuous need for the strengthening of staff capabilities in PV to ensure the effective fulfillment of NAFDAC’s mandate. She noted that the grant known as BL33, under the RSSH 2 initiative, facilitated the capacity development of PV officers, aligning their skills with the evolving field of PV and ADR reporting in Nigeria. This alignment adheres to the revised Nigerian National Pharmacovigilance Policy and Implementation Framework of 2020.

Furthermore, the GF grant designated as BL106 empowered NAFDAC to acquire a mobile app for ADR reporting and monitoring PV activities over a three-year period, concluding in 2023, at a cost of $8,684.21. This technological advancement streamlined the reporting and monitoring of ADR cases, significantly enhancing the overall responsiveness of the healthcare system.

To ensure the quality and authenticity of medicinal products, GF grant BL36 extended support to three NAFDAC state offices with three field devices known as Truscan. These devices, with a total value of $184,112, enable rapid on-the-spot checks for product quality, reinforcing NAFDAC’s mission to protect public health.

Ibrahim Tajudeen, the Acting Executive Secretary and County Coordinator for Mechanisms at the Global Fund, elaborated on the grant monitoring mechanism. He also underscored Nigeria’s privileged status in receiving additional resources for the successful utilization of the previous grant cycle spanning from 2021 to 2023.

The implementation of these grants stands as a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to improving healthcare quality and accessibility, strengthening the nation’s fight against diseases like HIV, TB, and malaria. NAFDAC’s enhanced capabilities will undoubtedly contribute to the overall well-being of the Nigerian population.