NIGERIA: Set To Tackle Local Health Challenges With Homegrown Vaccines In 2025

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Nigeria is set to tackle local health challenges head-on with the development of homegrown vaccines for diseases like cholera and Lassa fever.

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has revealed plans to transform the institute in 2025, with a key focus on developing vaccines targeted at local health challenges.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Monday, Prof. John Obafunwa, Director-General of NIMR, said the institute has already made significant strides in this direction.

A recent collaboration with international partners, including a South African team working on a COVID-19 vaccine for Africa, is expected to enhance NIMR’s capabilities in vaccine production, he said.

According to him, one of the key areas of focus for NIMR in 2025 is developing a vaccine for Lassa fever, a deadly disease that claims thousands of lives in Nigeria every year. The institute has already held a Zoom meeting with the Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control to discuss vaccine production for Lassa fever, with hopes that progress will be made on this front by next year.

In addition to vaccine development, NIMR is also exploring the unique environmental and genetic factors that contribute to the rise of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and certain types of cancer in Nigeria. The institute is working closely with local health agencies to address common diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera.

While NIMR faces the challenge of securing adequate funding for these ambitious projects, there is optimism about the potential for locally produced vaccines to address specific diseases.

As Prof. Obafunwa noted, “The centre is positioning itself as a central player in addressing Nigeria’s health challenges, with a focus on local research and innovations that can improve public health and contribute to global solutions.”