The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) has organised a free screening and medication for over 1000 residents of Abuja in Jiwa Community.
Speaking during the event, the director of NIPRD Research Clinic, Dr. Margaret Ekpenyong, stated that the outreach which is the first of its kind in Jiwa was aimed at giving back to the community and ensuring that they live a healthy life.
“We are doing free screening for them in the area of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, malaria, typhoid, and other illnesses. When they are diagnosed to have these issues, we have free drugs to give to them to make sure that they are healthy.
“We are planning on doing this in other communities. We seek the government support more than ever before. There are over 10 communities here and we will love to reach them all. They always come to our institute and most of them do not have money to go to the hospital. With this, they will be taken care of,” she said.
She added that NIPRD had been involved in clinical trials over the years adding that the institute has embarked on an ongoing multi-billion naira clinical trial on the safety and immunogenicity of fractional doses of COVID-19 vaccines imported into the country.
“We are looking at Johnson and Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer. We are looking at the fractional doses to see if those doses can produce antibodies to protect our people. This is the first center in Africa that is partaking in this global trial,” she said
Program Lead, Prof Henry Egharevba who represented the director general of the institute, Dr. Obi Adigwe stated, “This trial is to determine the safety and immunogenicity of the fractional doses of the vaccine. It will help reduce the potential for the reaction if there is any and also reduce the potential for toxicity. It is a study that is new in this part of the world. It has been done for yellow fever. But this is the first time it is being done for COVID-19-related vaccines”.