By Damola Niyi
SIR: Nigeria’s large population, which is estimated at over 250 million people currently, makes the demand for syringes in the country significant.
This demand is driven by healthcare needs ranging from vaccinations, daily medical procedures and other healthcare services rendered.
Before the establishment and growth of locally-based syringe manufacturing companies, Nigeria relied solely on the importation of syringes from countries such as China, India and others. This reliance, although, temporarily filled the supply gap experienced by the country, it came with a lot of risks which raised concerns as to the manufacturing processes, quality, cost and ready availability of these imported syringes.
The risk associated with importing un-sterilised syringes has serious health implications, causing infections such as hepatitis, abscess, HIV infections to mention but a few. It poses danger to the public, instead of helping to save lives.
Ensuring the quality and safety of imported syringes can be challenging, as it often involves reliance on the quality control measures of foreign manufacturers.
Read Also; Edo guber: I won’t be bullied out of race, says Philip Shaibu
In addition to these health concerns, economic implications such as relying on foreign suppliers for essential medical equipment leaves Nigeria vulnerable to disruptions in the global supply chain, like those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currency fluctuations when importing syringes requires dealing with fluctuating exchange rates, which can lead to cost uncertainties and budgetary constraints for healthcare facilities.
Also, importing syringes reduces opportunities for local job creation and economic growth, which can be addressed by supporting domestic manufacturing.
In recent years, the establishment of some local manufacturing companies has given a boost to local production of syringes. This has reduced the country’s reliance on importation and enhanced the availability of high quality, sterile hypodermic syringes.
In the heart of Nigeria’s burgeoning healthcare industry, these companies stand as a beacon of innovation and reliability. Operating in a dynamic way, they have emerged as a leading force in the domestic production of syringes, leveraging cutting-edge technology, while committing to quality.