Atlantic LifeSciences Limited, a Ghana-based vaccine manufacturer, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vins Bioproducts, a major Indian biological firm, to create anti-snake venom in Ghana.
As per the agreement, Vins Bioproducts would provide Atlantic LifeSciences with substantial quantities of anti-snake venom to complete and seal the synthesis of the serum in Ghana.
The agreement between the two businesses is likely to save the government a lot of money on purchasing anti-snake venom.
As a result, Ghana will be the first country in West Africa to produce and package anti-snake venom for local and export usage.
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The signing event was attended by Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Presidential Advisor on Health, and Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA).
Public Health
Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at the National Vaccine Institute, Dr. Nsiah-Asare stated that the manufacture of anti-snake venom will boost public health in the nation and strengthen the government’s efforts to make Ghana the centre of vaccine production in Africa.
“The production of vaccines locally is not a fluke, and the ready-to-fill anti-snake venom bulk is already in the country.
Ghana is steadily becoming a destination for global medical manufacturers,” he said.
Dhananjay Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Lifesciences, stated that snake bite was a neglected ailment that afflicted many individuals, particularly those living in rural regions.
He said that prior to opting in 2017 to start local production as part of its initiatives to support the Ghanaian economy, Atlantic Lifesciences was a major player in the importation of anti-snake venom.
Great initiative
Executive Director of Vins Bioproducts Limited Siddarth Daga said that in order to get anti-snake venoms closer to Ghana and the rest of Africa, his business chose to work with Atlantic Lifesciences.
The government’s industrialization ambition would be aided by the collaboration between Vins Bioproducts and Atlantic LifeSciences Limited, according to a speech read out by Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister of Health.
Ghana’s World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Professor Francis Kasolo, said in a speech on his behalf that the nation recorded an average of over 9,600 snake bites annually between 2015 and 2019.
He thus commended Vins Bioproducts and Atlantic LifeSciences Limited for their cooperation in tackling an important and urgent health issue.
