Nigerian pharmaceutical company Codix Bio Ltd has announced plans to produce millions of HIV and malaria rapid diagnostic test kits.
This initiative follows a significant reduction in funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which had been a major contributor to health programs in Nigeria.
The company is collaborating with South Korean firm SD Biosensor, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The test kits will be produced at a new facility located near Lagos. The plant is expected to roll out the test kits later this month, with an initial annual production capacity of 147 million kits, which can be expanded to over 160 million units.
The kits are designed to meet the internal demand within Nigeria and potentially expand to other West and Sub-Saharan African countries.
In 2024, US aid to Nigeria amounted to $740 million, primarily targeting malaria and HIV efforts. However, under recent policy changes, this assistance has been significantly scaled back, prompting Nigeria to seek domestic funding solutions to support essential health programs.
The Nigerian government, along with donor agencies such as the Global Fund, is expected to purchase the test kits to sustain vital health initiatives.
