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Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has lauded the production of the first anti-retroviral drugs used to battle Aids to be produced by an indigenous firm in the country, his office said on Monday.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has lauded the production of the first anti-retroviral drugs used to battle Aids to be produced by an indigenous firm in the country, his office said on Monday.
Obasanjo said at the weekend during the presentation of the Aids drug Virex by local drug firm Fidson Healthcare that he is encouraged by the achievement of the company.
He said the firm's feat has proved that "where there is a will, there is a way" to fight the deadly disease, afflicting about 5% of the 130-million-strong Nigerian population.
The president also challenged the company to achieve a similar breakthrough in production of a vaccine for malaria, another killer disease in the country.
Fidson boss Fidelis Ayebae said the drug is produced in both tablets and liquid forms for adults and children, and is 100% formulated and manufactured by Nigerian experts.
He said the new drug, which does not cure Aids but keeps the virus in check, is both affordable and available to affected Nigerians. -- Sapa-AFP