The AstraZeneca Nigeria Research Grant has been unveiled in
Nigeria for health affiliated research, reports NaijaAgroNet.
The grant, NaijaAgroNet gathered is an initiative to facilitate research in
both communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in this West African
country and follows closely on the recent successful launch of a comparable
venture in Kenya earlier this year.
NaijaAgroNet also gathered that over
the next three years, AstraZeneca plans to invest a total of US$300 000 (US$100
000/year) in a variety of research projects in Nigeria, with the aim of
building medical capacity in the country, providing support to both experienced
medical academics as well as medical academics embarking on a career in
research.
Karl Friberg, AstraZeneca’s Country President for South Africa
and Sub-Saharan Africa, informed NaijaAgroNet the
intention was to fund 5-7 projects per year.
“Prevalence/epidemiological, pharmaco-economic and health
outcomes data are vital if we’re to understand the disease burden in Africa.
The Grant will make possible the studies needed to provide such data,” Friberg
said.
The focus in Africa on infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and
malaria is now broadening to include NCDs like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular
diseases (e.g. hypertension) and asthma. “We know these conditions are
increasing rapidly in Africa, but we’re unable to quantify the extent of the
problem,” he continues.
“We need local data to know what we’re dealing with – so
that we can partner with governments to address matters earlier in the disease
process and avoid the higher downstream costs that come with treating advanced
disease states.”
The Nigerian government is especially concerned about the
increasing NCD burden. “The Minister of Health is interested in establishing a
national stroke and cardiovascular disease prevention programme, but is
dependent on hospitals coming up with good-quality representative data on the
prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors,” says Friberg. Over and above
the Grant, AstraZeneca is therefore also funding a project run out of the
capital, Abuja, to assess the prevalence of these risk factors.
The study involves 5000 subjects and is being undertaken in
partnership with the National Hospital Abuja. It represents an investment of an
additional US$100 000 and is currently under way. “We’re proud to feel that
even before the official launch of the ‘Grant’, we’re already helping to meet
Nigeria’s health needs,” observes Friberg. “By supporting the programme,
AstraZeneca is positioning itself as the partner of choice in raising
awareness, early detection and appropriate management of major cardiovascular
risk factors. This will be to the benefit of all stakeholders – the hospital,
the patients/community and AstraZeneca.”
The key aim of the ‘AstraZeneca Nigeria Research Grant’ is to
build capacity and capability to conduct research in Nigeria. “We hope to build
the next generation of academics in Nigeria by assisting them to undertake
clinical trials, have their research published and present their findings
internationally. For science to deliver value, data need to be shared and
challenged as the findings become known, understood and used constructively.”
AstraZeneca believes that pharmaceutical companies need to move
beyond their traditional roles and form partnerships to create a meaningful
difference in the health of a nation. Friberg feels that the ‘AstraZeneca
Nigeria Research Grant’ is a reflection of the company’s commitment to the
country and to Africa as a whole.
“When all is said and done, it’s about making
a difference to the patients themselves. I have great hopes and expectations
that this initiative will produce many high-quality research projects
that will provide crucial insights into Nigeria’s disease profile, especially
with regard to NCDs. And once we have this information, AstraZeneca will
continue to work together with the Nigerian government to address these
matters.”
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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Pix: R-L: Tarek Rabah, Area Vice President , Middle East& Africa,AstraZeneca Nigeria, Professor Folashade Ogunsola, Provost College of Medicine, University College Lagos, Karl Friberg, Country President, South Africa & Sub-Sahara Africa, AstraZeneca Nigeria and Jude Abonu, Country Manager, AstraZeneca Nigeria at the grand launch of AstraZeneca Scientific Research Trust Grant in Nigeria held in Lagos yesterday- 19th February, 2014