Abuja – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director Erin Holleran today presented Minister of State for Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire a certificate of accreditation from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for quality control on behalf of a laboratory operated by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD).

The NIPRD facility, which is responsible for pharmaceutical research and development of local phyto-medicines in Nigeria, is the fourth laboratory in Nigeria to be certified by ISO – an independent international standard bearer – for quality assurance and first non-regulatory laboratory in the country to receive the certification. 

“USAID has long supported the Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing sector to ensure it meets international best practices,” Dr. Holleran said at the ceremony. “We hope that this accreditation will open up new opportunities for research into quality medicines and increase public confidence in the medicines manufactured, prescribed, and sold in the country.”

The August 9, 2018 certification is the latest example of USAID’s contribution to maintaining the quality of medicines in Nigeria.  Nigeria is among 35 countries that receive technical and financial assistance to regulatory authorities to safeguard the quality of medicines, with a particular focus on treatment of malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.

USAID support has included developing quality assurance processes for the laboratory, calibration of equipment, procurement of basic equipment and reagents, support for proficiency testing and auditing, and staff capacity building to strengthen quality assurance of medicines.

The accreditation will not only avail Nigeria with the capacity to improve the quality of medicines it produces, but also enable it carry out research and develop local medicines in accordance with internationally accepted standards.