The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed $2.3 million to purchase 4.8 million doses of malaria medication from Swiss Pharma (Swipha).
The initiative, facilitated through the U.S. government’s President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), aims to improve access to essential, high-quality medicines across Nigeria and West Africa, underscoring the United States’ commitment to bolstering healthcare infrastructure and reaching underserved communities.
A press statement released by the U.S. Mission on Tuesday emphasized the significance of the procurement, particularly as Nigeria has faced persistent challenges in accessing affordable, reliable medicines.
High production costs and quality standards have hindered many local pharmaceutical companies from meeting international benchmarks, limiting the availability of vital medications.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that fewer than 10 percent of drugs produced in sub-Saharan Africa meet global standards, posing a major barrier to the local production of essential treatments, including those for malaria and child health.
In response, USAID has collaborated with Swipha to help the company achieve WHO prequalification for sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) tablets, a key preventive medicine for malaria during pregnancy.
This certification marks Swipha as the first pharmaceutical company in both Nigeria and West Africa to earn this WHO designation—a critical milestone for the region’s healthcare sector.
Swipha’s Managing Director, Frederic Lieutaud, expressed appreciation for USAID’s support, noting, “The WHO prequalification not only validates our commitment to producing high-quality medicines but also empowers us to scale up production and serve both local and international markets with trusted, essential medicines.”
