NNMDA, NITR to develop indigenous medicine for river blindness, sleeping sickness

The Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA) and the Nigerian Institute for Onchocerciasis, Trypanosomiasis and Research (NITR) have partnered to locally produce medicine for sleeping sickness, river blindness in one year.

Also known as sleeping sickness, trypanosomiasis is an infection that spreads from the bites of infected tsetse flies, while the advanced symptoms include drowsiness.

Onchocerciasis, popularly known as river blindness, is spread by repeated bites from infected black flies.

The Director-General, NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the sidelines of the recent signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the two institutions in Abuja.

“NITR will be looking at everything about the sickness the type of animals, flies, its epidemiology, the synthesis needed to be done.

“NNMDA will look at the studies they have done, what they have generated, we will convert them to dosage form.

“We will be applying nanotechnology and in the next twelve months we are going to come out with our own natural product for treatment of sleeping sickness and river blindness,’’ Emeje said.

He said the collaboration was important as the two organisations have the mandate to research and develop medications for tropical diseases such as river blindness and sleeping sickness, among others.

Supreme news recalls that Mr Phillip Ndiomu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, during the signing of the MoU, said the collaboration reflected the commitment towards innovation-driven solutions.

Ndiomu said the federal government was committed to solutions that would translate research into practical homegrown technologies for public health protection, disease control and economic value creation.

According to Phillip, the event marks a significant step towards advancing science, natural resources and innovation for national development.

Dr Joachim Ajakaiye, Director-General of NITR, also said the institute was committed to conducting research, developing capacity building for the control and elimination of African Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis and their respective vectors in the country.