Harvard malaria experts back local production of diagnostic kits in Nigeria

International health experts participating in a Harvard University-led malaria elimination programme have endorsed efforts to localise the production of diagnostic kits in Nigeria, describing the move as important for strengthening disease detection and public health response across Africa.

The experts, who are in Abuja for the Science of Defeating Malaria leadership development programme, made the observation during a visit to the NASENI-Troment Biotechnologies factory, a facility established to produce rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing materials.

A statement by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) said the delegation comprised about 85 medical professionals, scientists and policymakers from different countries.

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The visitors toured various sections of the factory, where they were briefed on plans to manufacture diagnostic kits for malaria, hepatitis B and C, HIV, typhoid, syphilis, COVID-19 and other health conditions.

Speaking during the visit, the team leader and a malaria researcher at Harvard University, Prof. Dyann F. Wirth, said expanding local capacity for the production of diagnostic tools could contribute to efforts aimed at tackling malaria and other infectious diseases on the continent.

“This is an amazing facility that would add value to the eradication of malaria and other public health diseases in Nigeria and the continent,” she said.

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of NASENI-Troment Biotechnologies, Selim Hani, said the facility was established through a partnership between NASENI and Troment Nigeria Limited to support local manufacturing of healthcare technologies.

He said the factory, completed within 18 months, is designed to produce up to 600 million diagnostic kits annually, with the aim of reducing dependence on imported medical diagnostics.

Hani added that products from the facility would be marketed under the N-CheckUP brand and would target some of the most common infectious diseases affecting Nigerians.

Also speaking, Technical Partner of the company, Dr Engin Narinc, described the factory as the first fully localised rapid diagnostic test kit production facility in Africa.

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