By: Otunba Sayo Akintola
Abuja, Dec. 15, 2023 – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says the World Health Organisation has granted pre-qualification status to the Central Drug Control Laboratory (CDCL) in Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
While announcing this achievement at a press conference in Abuja, Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said: “We are delighted to announce a momentous achievement for the Central Drug Control Laboratory (CDCL) in Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially granted WHO Prequalification Status to the CDCL, signifying a milestone in its dedication to ensuring the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products.
“This was communicated to us through a mail received from WHO Prequalification Inspection team on Friday 15th September, 2023.
“This success was finally published on the WHO website last week and the website address through which the public can cite and reference this was shared with us to for dissemination to the general public”.
She said that among the key benefits of the WHO prequalification of the laboratory are enhanced pharmaceutical quality and increased global recognition for medicines manufactured in Nigeria.
Adeyeye said the WHO prequalification status confered globally recognition badge of honour that attested to the CDCL’s competence in assuring the quality of pharmaceutical products.
She said the recognition also placed CDCL among an elite group of laboratories worldwide known for their excellence in drug analysis.
“This is a huge landmark achievement for the Agency and Nigeria. Very few laboratories in the world have the apex status of WHO pre-qualification,” she said
Adeyeye said the WHO prequalification of the CDCL was a testament to the unwavering commitment of NAFDAC to meeting international standards of excellence in drug quality control and regulation.
According to her, the recognition brings numerous benefits to CDCL, NAFDAC and to the Nigerian people.
Adeyeye further listed some of the key benefits of the WHO prequalification to Nigeria include; global recognition, more international collaboration, advancement of public health and streamlining of regulatory processes in the country.
For instance, the DG said the prequalification of CDCL will ensure that the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines tested and certified by the laboratory meet the highest international standards.
According to her, “This achievement would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of the Honourable Minister of Health, NAFDAC management, CDCL staff, NAFDAC management, and our esteemed partners such as WHO Nigeria Country Office, USP PQM+ Nigeria Country Office, and Global Fund.
“It underscores our commitment to safeguarding public health and improving healthcare access for all Nigerians.
“We are excited about the possibilities that this recognition brings and look forward to continuing our work to uphold the highest standards of pharmaceutical quality control and regulation. NAFDAC remains committed to its mission of safeguarding public health by ensuring that only safe, effective, and quality medicines and healthcare products are available to all Nigerians.
“We look forward to leveraging this achievement to strengthen our partnerships, enhance healthcare access, and contribute to the overall improvement of public health in Nigeria and the West African region, she added. (GBN)
Otunba Sayo Akintola is the Resident Media Consultant to NAFDAC
