The Federal Government has appealed to the private sector for greater involvement in vaccine and diagnostics production even as it lauded the efforts of the sector to support its response to COVID-19.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the call at the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors’ 23rd National Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja.
Osinbajo was represented by the Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu.
He said, “We keep learning from our successes and challenges and strategising on ways for better preparedness for other emerging diseases.
“The pandemic continues to emphasise the urgent need for innovation and action, in vaccine manufacturing and in-vitro diagnostics, not just in Nigeria but across the continent of Africa.
“Vaccine manufacturing capacity in Nigeria would greatly impact the national response to COVID-19 and other diseases and this cannot be left to government alone.
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“As you know, there is a window of opportunity that exists with infectious diseases and health currently being given priority on the national and global agenda.
“This window requires more than just the usual to be done to ensure that actions follow any plans made to scale-up vaccine and diagnostics production.”
Earlier, the National President of Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors, Elochukwu Adibo, explained that this year’s conference “has over 300 registered participants attending physically and virtually with over 100 invited guests and organisations across the 36 states of the federation including the FCT.”
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