Health
Local Packaging of WHO-Approved HIV Tests, a Shift in Africa’s Diagnostic Capacity
By Chidinma Onwumere
Nigeria’s public health system has taken a further step toward strengthening diagnostic self-reliance with the local packaging of a WHO pre-qualified HIV Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) at a facility in Lagos. The development highlights a broader shift in how essential health commodities are produced, supplied, and regulated across the continent.
The HIV test in question, the Standard Q HIV 1 & 2 RDT was previously manufactured and distributed as a fully imported finished product. Through regulatory approval granted under the WHO Pre-Qualification Change Notification, local packaging is now authorised at Colexa Biosensor, a Nigerian facility, making it the only site in Africa currently approved to package a WHO-prequalified HIV RDT.
While the technical designation may appear procedural, its implications are significant. WHO pre-qualification is a globally recognised quality benchmark used by national governments and international donors to guide procurement decisions for public health programs. Any change to a pre-qualified product, including where it is packaged, requires rigorous assessment to ensure that quality, safety, and performance remain unchanged.
For Nigeria, the approval represents more than a regulatory milestone. It addresses a longstanding vulnerability in health systems across Africa: dependence on imported diagnostics and the fragility of global supply chains. During recent global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries experienced delays in access to essential medical commodities, exposing the risks of over-reliance on distant manufacturing hubs.
By enabling local packaging of a WHO-approved HIV test, Nigeria improves its ability to respond more quickly to demand fluctuations, reduce lead times, and maintain continuity of supply for national HIV programs. The test has been evaluated and approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and the National AIDS and STI Control Programme and is listed on the National HIV Testing Algorithm, making it eligible for procurement by government agencies and international partners supporting HIV services in the country.
From a programme perspective, inclusion on the national algorithm is critical. It ensures that test kits used in public health settings meet required performance standards and align with national testing strategies. It also allows donor-funded programs, such as those supported by multilateral agencies and global health initiatives, to procure the product locally while maintaining compliance with international quality requirements.
The shift toward local packaging also brings economic and institutional benefits. Shorter supply chains can lower logistics costs, improve predictability, and create opportunities for skills transfer in quality management, regulatory compliance, and manufacturing operations. Importantly, local involvement does not replace global standards; rather, it requires demonstrable adherence to them. WHO-approved local packaging is contingent on standardised processes, full traceability, and the ability to consistently prove compliance through documentation and audits.
Health policy experts note that such approvals challenge persistent assumptions that high-quality diagnostic manufacturing must occur outside Africa. Instead, they suggest a growing recognition that African facilities, when supported by strong regulatory oversight and technical partnerships, can meet the same benchmarks applied globally.
Beyond HIV diagnostics, the Lagos facility also produces blood glucose meters and test strips, reflecting a parallel focus on non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, which are rising rapidly across Nigeria and the continent. This dual focus on communicable and non-communicable diseases aligns with evolving health priorities, as African countries face a growing burden of chronic illness alongside infectious diseases.
The broader significance of this development lies in its potential scalability. While the immediate impact is national, the regulatory pathway demonstrated in Nigeria could inform similar initiatives elsewhere in Africa. Regional health bodies and policymakers have long advocated for greater local production of essential medical products as part of health security and economic development strategies. However, progress has often been constrained by regulatory complexity, quality assurance requirements, and limited technical capacity.
By meeting WHO pre-qualification standards for local packaging, Nigeria offers a practical example of how these barriers can be addressed. It also underscores the importance of collaboration between global manufacturers, local operators, regulators, and international agencies in building sustainable diagnostic capacity.
As demand for HIV testing remains high, particularly among key populations and in underserved areas, reliable access to quality-assured diagnostics remains central to prevention, treatment, and surveillance efforts. Local packaging does not eliminate the need for global supply chains, but it can make them more resilient, responsive, and context-appropriate.
More broadly, the development contributes to an ongoing debate about how African countries can move beyond consumption toward greater participation in the value chain of global health products. In this sense, the local packaging of a WHO-approved HIV test is less about a single facility or product and more about what it represents: a gradual but meaningful shift toward health system self-reliance grounded in global standards
As African governments and development partners continue to prioritise pandemic preparedness, universal health coverage, and supply chain resilience, such models may play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of healthcare delivery on the continent.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The sum of $250,000 in humanitarian funding is to be provided by Binance to support the frontline response to the ongoing Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The cryptocurrency exchange said the funds would be used to enable rapid response in high-risk and underserved areas, where access to healthcare infrastructure, protective resources, and timely public health information remains limited.
The money will be shared equally between the Uganda Red Cross Society and Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), supporting urgent interventions in affected and high-risk communities.
Binance’s contribution will help strengthen emergency medical care and treatment, community awareness and prevention campaigns, contact tracing and containment support, and the provision of sanitation supplies and protective equipment for frontline workers.
By supporting both immediate response activities and preventative education, Binance aims to contribute to reducing transmission and strengthening community resilience.
“Communities across Africa continue to show extraordinary resilience in the face of complex challenges, but frontline responders should not have to face crises like this alone,” the co-chief executive of Binance, Mr Richard Teng, said.
“The teams working to contain the Ebola disease outbreak are delivering vital, life-saving support under incredibly difficult conditions.
“We are proud to support both the Uganda Red Cross Society and Doctors Without Borders as they work to protect vulnerable populations, strengthen local response efforts, and deliver urgent care where it is needed most,” he added.
Also commenting, the Secretary General for the Uganda Red Cross Society, Mr Robert Kwesiga, said, “Strong partnerships are essential during public health emergencies since we are not able to manage the outbreak alone.
“The support from Binance comes in so timely and handy, and will help us respond more rapidly, reach more at-risk communities, and reinforce the frontline services needed to help contain the outbreak and save lives.”
The MSF Emergency Programme Manager, Trish Newport, while speaking on the initiative, said, “The number of cases and deaths we are seeing in such a short timeframe, combined with the spread across several health zones and now across the border, is extremely concerning. In Ituri, many people already struggle to access healthcare and live with ongoing insecurity, making rapid action critical to prevent the outbreak from escalating further.”
Caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, this Ebola disease outbreak has placed acute pressure on already fragile health systems in eastern DRC and the wider region.
Local authorities, international agencies, and humanitarian organisations are racing to contain it and protect affected communities.
Binance’s support is intended to reinforce these efforts at a critical moment. It reflects the company’s broader commitment to supporting communities across Africa through programmes focused on education, financial inclusion, digital skills development, and community empowerment.
In this case, Binance is extending that commitment to urgent humanitarian and public health needs by working alongside trusted organisations with deep frontline expertise.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and ordered the immediate release of N10 billion as emergency intervention funding.
According to a disclosure by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the fund will strengthen the operational preparedness of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and support critical national public health emergency response activities.
The team will be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, with membership drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and state representatives.
The presidency noted that the approval followed a stakeholder meeting convened under the chairmanship of the Chief of Staff to review Nigeria’s preparedness and develop strategies against the possible importation of Ebola into the country.
Ebola has recently resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, both neighbouring countries.
Other key stakeholders at the meeting included representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Lagos State Government and others.
Mr Onanuga also disclosed that President Tinubu directed all states hosting international airports and international border corridors, as well as relevant MDAs, to submit their plans, funding requirements and intervention needs for consideration and coordinated implementation.
Additional measures to be implemented by the Task Force include the intensification of passenger screening at all international airports through enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols; enhanced monitoring of passengers arriving through high-risk airline routes, including Air Uganda, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Air Angola, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines; and the immediate activation of referral and isolation centres at the Lagos and Abuja international airports, with other airports to follow.
Other measures include the mandatory activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers originating from or transiting through designated high-risk countries, as well as the disinfection of departure halls, cargoes, baggage areas and airport facilities as precautionary environmental measures.
The President also directed the advisory group to consult with security, diplomatic and aviation bodies on regulating flights from affected and designated high-risk countries.
The Task Force was further mandated to designate specific airports or terminals for high-risk flights to enable controlled screening and isolation procedures, and to consider adjusting flight schedules to minimise interaction between high-risk passengers and other travellers.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Over 500 residents of Ajegunle in Lagos enjoyed free healthcare services, comprehensive health education, youth mentorship, and community engagement activities at a one-day event organised by Queens Palm Support Initiative (QPSI).
This is part of the organisation’s Reach 1000 Initiative, deliberately designed to address immediate healthcare needs and empower individuals with the knowledge, resources, and support required to live healthier, more productive, and dignified lives.
QPSI is a non-profit organisation established by Ms Sabrina Ozma dedicated to advancing community development, healthcare advocacy, youth empowerment, leadership education, and social impact interventions across Nigeria. Fou
At the Ajegunle programme held at Bola Ige Millennium School, Tolu Complex, participants received a comprehensive range of healthcare services facilitated by accredited medical professionals, including general medical consultations and health assessments, malaria screening, diagnosis and treatment, blood sugar testing and diabetes awareness, comprehensive eye examinations and vision assessments, as well as specialist neurosurgical consultations provided by medical experts from Dukes Neurosurgery and Specialist Hospital.
Also, Reals Pharmaceutical Limited provided and distributed antimalarial medications to beneficiaries, ensuring continuity of treatment and improved health outcomes beyond the day of the outreach.
Ms Ozma, while speaking at the event, said access to quality healthcare remains one of the most pressing challenges confronting underserved communities across Nigeria.
According to her, interventions such as the Reach 1000 Initiative are deliberately designed to close this gap, not only by addressing immediate healthcare needs but by empowering individuals with the knowledge, resources, and support required to live healthier, more productive, and dignified lives.
Beyond healthcare delivery, the initiative featured structured health education and awareness sessions focused on disease prevention and early symptom recognition, personal hygiene and sanitation best practices, nutrition and food safety, healthy lifestyle habits, and the importance of routine medical check-ups.
In addition, a media personality and youth advocate, Ms Blessing Lopez, led engaging conversations around personal growth, confidence, and purpose-driven living, while entertainer Larry J inspired participants through discussions on resilience, positive decision-making, and the importance of becoming active contributors to societal progress.
The programme also attracted notable participation from government institutions and civil society organisations, highlighting the importance of multi-sector collaboration in addressing community challenges.
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, engaged participants on safeguarding, protection against domestic and sexual violence, and the importance of building safer communities.
Further, representatives of the Cleen Foundation facilitated discussions on crime prevention, community security, and the role of young people in promoting civic responsibility and the rule of law, while the Crime Prevention Partnership (CPP) led discussions on community-led safety strategies and citizen participation in fostering safer neighbourhoods.
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