Mozambique has made history by becoming the first country to receive African-manufactured HIV treatment through the Global Fund, a milestone that signals a shift toward greater health self-reliance in a region carrying nearly 65 percent of the world’s HIV burden.
Thank you for reading this post; don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
The breakthrough involves treatment produced by Universal Corporation Ltd, a Kenya-based pharmaceutical company that became the first African manufacturer to receive World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification for HIV medicine production. The company produces tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine, and dolutegravir (TLD), a first-line antiretroviral therapy for HIV treatment.
This procurement is a significant departure from Sub-Saharan Africa’s long-standing dependence on imported lifesaving antiretroviral medicines and testing kits, representing what health officials describe as a cautious but critical step toward regional health independence.
Director of WHO’s Global HIV Programmes, Dr. Meg Doherty, highlighted the significance of this development. “The procurement of the African-manufactured first-line HIV treatment by the Global Fund for Mozambique is a great milestone towards strengthening supply chain systems in Africa,” she said. “This will contribute to better health outcomes for people living with HIV who need uninterrupted medicine supplies.”
The achievement forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen local production capacity and improve access to essential health technologies across Africa. WHO has been collaborating with countries, manufacturers, and global health organisations, including the Global Fund and Unitaid, to expand quality-assured African manufacturing capabilities.
WHO Director for Regulation and Prequalification, Rogerio Gaspar, stressed the urgency of local production. “Local production of quality-assured health products is an urgent priority. With every African manufacturer that meets WHO prequalification standards, we move closer to a more self-reliant, resilient, and equitable health system.”
Complementing the treatment production milestone, Nigerian diagnostics company Codix Bio recently received a sublicense to manufacture rapid diagnostic tests for HIV, addressing another critical component of the HIV response chain.
“Having locally produced HIV rapid tests will help increase affordability and more broadly address supply chain vulnerabilities and delays in access to diagnostics,” Doherty explained. This development becomes particularly crucial as shifting donor funding puts pressure on countries to maintain HIV testing programmes, which serve as the frontline of prevention and treatment efforts.
However, WHO cautioned that production alone cannot ensure long-term sustainability. The agency is calling for advanced market commitments, fair procurement policies, and ongoing technical support to solidify these gains. The organisation also encourages countries to adopt low-cost, WHO-prequalified rapid HIV tests, particularly as the first test in national algorithms, which can significantly reduce costs while maintaining service delivery standards.
While acknowledging the progress, WHO noted that more action remains necessary. “Locally manufactured TLD is a major step towards that goal, but more action is needed,” the organisation stated, highlighting the ongoing challenges in achieving comprehensive health self-reliance across the continent.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens the body’s immune system, reducing its ability to fight infections and certain cancers. Without timely intervention, it can progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the most advanced stage of infection.
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: http://bit.ly/3I7mQVx
Or scan the QR code:
