Janet Ogundepo
The Secretary-General, Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisations, Barrister Ayo Adebusoye, has stated that Nigeria has the capacity to produce malaria vaccines locally, urging the Federal Government to prioritise domestic manufacturing to reduce dependence on imports.
Adebusoye, a former board member at the Governing Board of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, stated that Nigeria must take advantage of its high malaria burden to position itself at the forefront of vaccine production.
The public health advocate further noted that while the gradual rollout of malaria vaccines was a welcome development, the country risks being left behind if it fails to invest in research and local manufacturing capacity.
In a recent interview with PUNCH Healthwise, he said, “Malaria vaccine is rolling out slowly, but we should be at the forefront of that. We are the ones with the heaviest burden of malaria. So, we should be at the forefront of making sure that we can produce our vaccines.”
He stressed that reliance on imported vaccines was no longer sustainable, especially in the face of declining global health funding.
Adebusoye said, “Funding generally has been reduced. The USAID cut-off was there, and WHO funding has also been reduced. This is why Nigeria has to be aggressive in funding health research and vaccine production.”
PUNCH Healthwise reports that vaccines for smallpox and yellow fever and antirabies were locally produced at the Federal Vaccine Production Laboratory in Yaba, Lagos, between 1940 and 1991.
At the time, some vaccines were exported to other African countries. However, production at the centre ceased in 1991 with the Federal Government’s assurance that the facility would be upgraded.
Since then, Nigeria has relied on imported vaccines.
Continuing, Adebusoye added that strengthening collaboration between the government, private sector and academic institutions would be key to achieving local production.
“The collaboration with the private sector has to be strengthened to ensure that we can fund, with universities and research institutions, the kind of environment needed to produce our own vaccines and medications,” he said.
PUNCH Healthwise earlier reported in 2024 that Nigeria received its first shipment of one million doses of the R21 malaria vaccine from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine prequalified by WHO and is shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials for preventing malaria in children.
While receiving the vaccines, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said, “The arrival of the malaria vaccine is a monumental step in our national efforts to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality.”
Nigeria has a high burden of malaria globally, accounting for approximately 27 per cent of the global malaria burden and 31 per cent of malaria deaths worldwide.
According to the 2023 World Malaria Report, about 200,000 deaths from malaria occurred in Nigeria, with children under five and pregnant women mostly affected.
Continuing, the Executive Chairman at Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative further expressed concern over the low level of health financing in the country, noting that Nigeria still falls short of the 15 per cent allocation to health agreed under the Abuja Declaration.
“At the federal level, we are still around four to five per cent, while some states are at about eight per cent. This is below expectations. We need to significantly increase funding for health at both the federal and state levels,” he said.
He warned that inadequate funding continues to widen inequalities in access to healthcare, with about 70 per cent of health expenditure in Nigeria still coming from out-of-pocket payments.
“This is the most inefficient way of financing healthcare because it limits access for the most vulnerable,” he added.
Adebusoye further linked the country’s health workforce challenges to poor working conditions and insecurity, noting that many young doctors are leaving the country.
“There is nothing stopping them from leaving if conditions do not improve. Government must address insecurity and create an enabling environment, especially in rural areas where health workers are most needed,” he said.
He also urged caution in entering bilateral health agreements, stressing the need for Nigeria to prioritise its interests in global partnerships.
He advised, “We must look critically at agreements we are signing and ensure they align with our national priorities, particularly in areas like data and health systems strengthening.”
Adebusoye emphasised that increasing domestic funding for health, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and strengthening health systems were critical priorities.
He said, “We need more funding for health, better outcomes in maternal and child health, and stronger systems that close the gap between urban and rural areas.”
The expert maintained that local production of malaria vaccines would not only improve access but also enhance Nigeria’s health security and economic resilience.
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