USAID and Swipha Achieve Historic WHO Prequalification Milestone in West Africa

This achievement underscores the commitment of both USAID and Swipha to advancing healthcare in the region, ensuring that essential, life-saving medicines are available and accessible to those who need them most.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with Swiss Pharma (Swipha), has achieved a landmark breakthrough in the pharmaceutical industry, marking a significant step towards enhancing healthcare in Nigeria and across West Africa. Through this partnership, Swipha has become the first pharmaceutical company in Nigeria and West Africa to receive World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification for two essential medicines, a milestone that will protect and save countless lives.

For years, Nigeria has struggled with challenges in accessing affordable, life-saving medicines due to high costs and the inability of many local pharmaceutical companies to meet international standards. These challenges have disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women, limiting their access to quality healthcare.

Thanks to technical assistance from USAID, Swipha has not only achieved WHO prequalification but has also been recognized as the first pharmaceutical company in the region to comply with WHO's Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. This certification validates the quality, safety, and efficiency of Swipha’s pharmaceutical products and manufacturing processes, setting a new benchmark for the industry in West Africa.

Among the certified products is pediatric Zinc Sulphate, a critical medicine for reducing the severity and duration of severe diarrhea, which is a leading cause of mortality among children under five in Nigeria. Additionally, Swipha’s WHO-certified Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine tablets play an essential role in preventing malaria during pregnancy, a significant factor in child mortality in the country.

With WHO prequalification, Swipha is now positioned to supply these essential medicines to organizations and governments worldwide, significantly contributing to the improvement of child health and maternal care across Nigeria, the West African sub-region, and beyond.

During a visit to the Swipha factory in Lagos, USAID Acting Mission Director Alexis Taylor-Granados highlighted the importance of this achievement: “This milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration in improving healthcare in Nigeria. We are proud to have supported Swipha in reaching this historic milestone and look forward to continuing our partnership to ensure more quality medicines reach those who need them most. Together, we are building a healthier future for Nigeria.”

This achievement underscores the commitment of both USAID and Swipha to advancing healthcare in the region, ensuring that essential, life-saving medicines are available and accessible to those who need them most.