USAID Invests $2.3m Landmark Partnership To Expand Access To Malaria Treatment In West Africa

Lagos, Nigeria – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a $2.3 million investment in a groundbreaking partnership with Swiss Pharma (Swipha), a Nigerian pharmaceutical company.

This commitment will procure 4.8 million doses of life-saving malaria tablets, specifically sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) tablets, a vital medicine for malaria prevention during pregnancy.

The initiative, facilitated through the U.S. Government’s President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), aims to significantly improve healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria and West Africa by expanding access to essential medicines.

For years, Nigeria has struggled to procure affordable, high-quality medicines due to the high cost of production and the inability of many local pharmaceutical companies to meet international quality standards.

This situation has been exacerbated by a lack of local production capacity, with less than 10% of medicines manufactured in sub-Saharan Africa meeting global standards, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In a significant step forward, USAID has partnered with Swipha in their efforts to achieve WHO prequalification for their SP tablets.

Swipha is now the first pharmaceutical company in Nigeria and West Africa to achieve this certification, marking a critical milestone for the region’s pharmaceutical capacity.

“USAID’s support was pivotal in helping us reach this milestone,” said Swipha Managing Director, Frederic Lieutaud.

“The WHO prequalification not only validates our commitment to producing high-quality medicines but also enhances our capacity to scale production and serve both local and international markets with trusted, essential medicines.”

With this certification, Swipha is poised to expand its reach, supplying essential medicines to international donors and procurement agencies, ultimately strengthening healthcare delivery across Nigeria and the broader West African region.

This achievement also represents a significant boost to Nigeria’s healthcare system, enhancing local manufacturing capacity and contributing to public health efforts to combat preventable diseases.

During a visit to Swipha’s facility in Lagos, USAID Mission Director to Nigeria Melissa Jones commented, “This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration in improving healthcare in Nigeria.

“We are proud to have supported Swipha in reaching this milestone and look forward to continuing our partnership to ensure more quality medicines reach those who need them most. Together, we are building a healthier future for Nigeria.”

This landmark partnership between USAID and Swipha marks a crucial step towards improving access to essential medicines and strengthening healthcare systems in West Africa.

By supporting local pharmaceutical capacity, the initiative holds the potential to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of millions of people across the region.