…….Body of Experts for Scheme Inaugurated
By Dayo Omoogun
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele has announced that more than 20 applications requesting for a total of N67 billion grants under its Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme (HSRDIS) have been received by the bank.
He disclosed this during the inauguration of the Body of Experts (BoE) for Scheme in Abuja on Monday. The body of experts whose function is to review and evaluate the submitted proposals is to be chaired by Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Emefiele explained that the programme was designed to increase the nation’s Research and Development activities that would help support the development of Nigeria made vaccines, drugs and herbal medicines.
He said the provision of grants to biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, institutions, researchers, and research institutes would enhance the country’s domestic capacity to curb the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable or non-communicable diseases would be improved.
“Providing grants for Research and Development in new or revalidation of drug molecules, phytomedicines and vaccines will help in the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in Nigeria.
“It will boost domestic manufacturing of validated drugs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients or APIs), herbal medicines and vaccines for the control, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in Nigeria.
“And this will reduce the nation’s dependence on other countries for these drugs and vaccines
“It will also improve the capacity of the biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, institutions, researchers, and research institutes in the development of approved Nigerian drugs, herbal medicines and vaccines for infectious diseases.
“This will help to support the capacity of relevant health agencies toward attaining WHO Maturity Level three, a prerequisite for manufacturing of vaccines in Nigeria,” Emefiele said.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha who inaugurated the body as well as the Chairperson, Professor Adeyeye commended CBN for the intervention.
The Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme (HSRDIS) was introduced by the CBN in the heat of the Corona Virus pandemic, as a way of encouraging Nigerian scientists to develop a Nigerian vaccine.