The development points A milestone for a region that bears almost 65 percent of the global HIV and has long been dependent on the entry of life -saving anti -turviral medicines and test kits. But that can begin to change.
The Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) weakens the body’s immune system, which reduces the ability to combat infections and certain cancers. Without timely intervention, it can continue to the obtained immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the most advanced stage of infection.
In 2023, the Kenya -based pharmaceutical company Universal Corporation LTD became the first African manufacturer to receive the World Health Organization (WHO) Pre-qualification to produce Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumaraat, Lamivudine and Dolutegravir (TLD)-Een Premierine Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV.
Now, in an important step forward, the global fund-a-global partnership financing HIV, tuberculosis and malaria reactions-to-the-hand-produced HIV treatment for Mozambique is the first time that African made TLD through this channel has been implemented.
‘The purchase of African Primary HIV treatment by the Global Fund for Mozambique is a large milestone for strengthening the supply chain systems in Africa,” said Meg Doherty, director of the global HIV programs.
‘This will contribute to better health results for people who live with HIV who need continuous medicines.“
Build regional capacity
He says that the performance is part of a broader urge to strengthen local production capacity and to improve access to essential health technologies in Africa.
The UN agency cooperates with countries, manufacturers and global health organizations, including the Global Fund and Unitaid-to-expand African production of quality.
“Local production of high-quality health products is an urgent priority,” says Rogerio Gaspar, director for regulations and pre-qualification.
‘With every African manufacturer who meets the standards for the qualification, we come closer to a more self -reliant, resilient and fair health system.“
Progress, but structural gaps remain
Despite the milestone, which only warned that production, is not enough. To guarantee sustainability in the long term, the agency calls for advanced market obligations, honest purchasing policy and continuous technical support.
Who also points to diagnostics as a critical gap. With the shifting of donor financing, many countries are under pressure to maintain HIV test programs that are the front line of prevention and treatment.
In a related effort, Codix Bio, a Nigerian diagnostic company, is recently received a sublicense to produce rapid diagnostic tests for HIV.
‘Having locally produced HIV -fast tests will help to increase affordability, and in a broader sense in the vulnerabilities of the supply chain and delays in access to diagnostics“Said Dr. Doherty.
Maintaining an impact in the midst of financing tribe
As part of its guidelines, the UN Health Agency also encourages countries to adopt cheap, WHO-similar fast HIV tests, especially as the first test in national algorithms, which can considerably reduce costs while retaining the service.
Although the newest update marks tangible progress, more action is needed.
“Locally manufactured TLD is an important step in the direction of that goal,” who said, “but more action is needed.”
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