PSN wants FG to improve funding of research institute

PSN wants FG to improve funding of research institute
NAN-HG-4
Funding
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, Oct. 18, 2017 (NAN) Mr Ahmed Yakasai, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), on Wednesday called for improved electricity supply and funding to the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD).
Yakasai, who spoke at the unveiling of a monument at the institute in Abuja, said this was stalling progress of research and had forced the institute to operate below capacity.
According to him, the institute has only kept its operations going with donations and support from international organisations, donor agencies and individuals.
He said it was time the Federal Government improved on its support to the institute.
Yakasai charged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to rally support for the institute to enable it sustain the international standard it had achieved over the years through donor support.
“NIPRD is here and is working but it needs help; the institute needs funding to re-equip its laboratories.
“The institute is surviving today because of donations and support from countries like Japan, USAID and so on.
“This is what has made the NIPRD one that can compete favourably with others around the world.
“However, the institute does not have electricity to do its work and this is sad. It needs support; funding is not there and we need ways to fund the institute.
“You cannot run an institute like this without funding, without adequate equipment and manpower; this institute needs to expand beyond what it is now.’’
Yakasai recalled that when he became president of the PSN, he gave attention to the institute.
According to him, the institute was built because of the need to harness Nigeria’s natural resources for research and development, and to show the world what we have and what we are capable of achieving.
“The institute is doing a lot in the area of drug production, HIV research and treatment, sickle cell anaemia, malaria and so on.
“They are collaborating with international organisations to bring in modern technology but government needs to do its part by supporting the institute,’’ Yakasai said.
The NIPRD director-general, Prof. Karniyus Gamaniel, said since the establishment of the institute it had supported the health sector by checkmating quality of drugs produced in the country or imported.
Gamaniel said the institute had also successfully researched and produced ‘Niprisan’, a drug for the management of sickle cell anaemia.
According to him, it is the first time such a drug is being brought forward and commercialised from the laboratory to the public domain.
He added that the drug was unique and recognised worldwide.
Gamaniel stressed that the institute was currently operating at 40 per cent capacity, especially in the areas of infrastructure and funding.
“On the research of drugs, we are doing fairly based on the resources available to us.
“If we have support, this institute will do a lot in the areas of employment generation, boosting the economy and lead to medical findings for foreign exchange,’’ the director-general said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the monument being unveiled was erected by the PSN for the institute. (NAN)
KRY/COF/MST
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Muhammad Suleiman Tola