NAFDAC laboratory in Yaba gets WHO pre-qualification approval
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the pre-qualification approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its facility as a Central Drug Control Laboratory (CDCL) in Yaba, Lagos.
The WHO pre-qualification of the CDCL is a testament to the unwavering commitment of NAFDAC to meeting international standards of excellence in drug quality control and regulation.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, confirmed at a news conference in Abuja, Thursday, that the World Health Organisation (WHO), had recently granted the approval of the CDCL.
She said that the approval of the laboratory for the agency was a significant milestone in its dedication to ensuring the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products.
According to Prof. Adeyeye, the pre-qualification approval was communicated to the agency via an mail received from WHO pre-qualification inspection team on September 15.
“The success was finally published on the WHO website, adding that the website address through which the public could cite and reference was equally shared with the agency for dissemination.
“You can access the information on the pre-qualification procedure, as well as the list of pre-qualified quality control laboratories, on the pre-qualification unit medicine.
“This is huge landmark achievement for the agency and Nigeria. Very few laboratories in the world have the apex status of WHO pre-qualification.
“Our journey towards this milestones actually started since year 2010, but with renewed efforts and more commitment to attempts by our management and Federal Government in the last four years, we have finally achieved this goal,” Prof. Adeyeye said.
The NAFDAC boss stated that this prestigious recognition brought numerous benefits to CDCL, NAFDAC, and most importantly, to the Nigeria people.
Adeyeye listed the benefits which the WHO pre-qualification of the CDCL would bring to Nigeria as global recognition, enhanced pharmaceutical quality, international collaboration and advanced public health.
Others are streaming regulatory process, enhancement of credibility and advancement of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
She said the achievement would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication and unwavering commitment of the Minister of Health, NAFDAC management, CDCL staff and other partners like WHO Nigeria country office, USP PQM + Nigeria country office and Global Fund.
