UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé visited a generic medicine manufacturer in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on 24 March following his attendance at a meeting of francophone mayors on HIV. CIPHARM, the leading pharmaceutical company in Côte d’Ivoire, produces a number of medicines, ranging from antihistamines to antibiotics. During the visit, Ibrahim Diawara, the Chief Executive Officer of CIPHARM, told Mr Sidibé that the company wanted to begin the production of antiretroviral medicines.
UNAIDS has been encouraging the local production of antiretroviral medicines in Africa, the continent with the highest HIV burden. In western and central Africa, three out four people living with HIV do not have access to treatment.
Mr Sidibé committed UNAIDS’ help for CIPHARM to fulfil the norms of the World Health Organization for antiretroviral therapy production and to promote regional and local production.
Since 2014, the Economic Community of West African States has pursued a Regional Pharmaceutical Plan to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry and ensure the production of quality, safe and affordable medicines accessible by the region’s population.
UNAIDS is working with countries to ensure that, by 2020, 30 million people living with HIV are accessing treatment.
“The growth of new pharmaceutical industries like CIPHARM will save lives and deliver measurable returns through increased productivity, longevity and lower long-term health-care costs in the long run. It is a win–win for all.”
Michel Sidibé UNAIDS Executive Director
“We have been interested for a long time to manufacture antiretroviral medicines locally in order to save lives in Côte d’Ivoire and the Economic Community of West African States. We are determined it will contribute to eliminating the AIDS epidemic by 2030.”
Ibrahim Diawara Chief Executive Officer, CIPHARM
