The development marks A milestone for a region bearing nearly 65 percent of global HIV burden and has long been addicted to import of life -saving antiretroviral drugs and test sets. But it may start to change.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens the body’s immune system and reduces its ability to fight infections and certain cancers. Without timely intervention, it can move on to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the most advanced stage of infection.
By 2023, Kenya-based pharmaceutical company Universal Corporation LTD was the first African manufacturer to receive the World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualification to produce Tenofovir-Disoproxil Fumarate, Lamivudin and Dolut Gravir (TLD)-a first line antiretroviral therapy to HIV.
Now, in a big step forward, Global Fund is acquiring worldwide partnership financing of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria-answer-this locally produced HIV treatment for Mozambique, making it the first time African manufactured TLD has been deployed through this channel.
“Purchase of the Afrofremeted First Line HIV treatment of the Global Fund for Mozambique is a large milestone against strengthening supply chain systems in Africa,“Said Meg Doherty, director of WHO’s Global HIV programs.
“This will contribute to better health results for people living with HIV who need uninterrupted medication supply.“
Building regional capacity
Who says performance is part of a wider push to strengthen local production capacity and improve access to important health technologies throughout Africa.
The UN Agency has collaborated with countries, producers and global health organizations-including Global Fund and UNITAID-to expand quality insured African production.
“Local production of quality -collected health products is an urgent priority,” said Rogerio Gaspar, as director of regulation and pre -qualification.
“With every African manufacturer that meets, as pre -qualification standards, we move closer to a more self -help, elastic and fair health care system.“
Progress but that structural holes remain
Despite the milestone warning that production alone is not enough. To ensure long -term sustainability, the Agency calls on advanced market obligations, fair procurement policies and ongoing technical support.
That also points to diagnostics as a critical hole. With changing donor financing, many countries are under pressure to maintain HIV test programs that are the front line of prevention and treatment.
In a related effort, Codix Bio, a Nigerian diagnostic company, recently received an underlicence for the manufacture of quick diagnostic tests for HIV.
Locally produced HIV -Fast Test will help increase affordable prices and address vulnerabilities and delays to the supply chain
– Who Instructor Meg Doherty
“Having locally produced HIV -Fast Test will help increase affordable prices and more broadly address vulnerabilities and delays in access to diagnostics“Said Dr. Doherty.
Maintaining impact in the middle of financing strain
As part of its guidance, the UN Health Agency also calls for countries to adopt low costs, there-assets with quick HIV tests, especially as the first test in national algorithms that can reduce costs while maintaining service delivery.
While the latest update marks concrete progress, more action is needed.
“Locally produced TLD is a big step towards this goal,” that said, “but more action is needed.”
