By Edem Archibong, in Calabar
The Cross River State-owned Calabar Pharmaceutical Company initiated by the former Governnor Ben Ayade’s administration has been commended by his predecessor, Governnor Bassey Edet Otu.
The pharmaceutical company awaits inspection and accreditation of the NAFDAC to commence production in September, 2024.
This was made known in Calabar by Governnor Bassey Edet Otu during the guided tour by the Technical Director, of CALAPHARM Company, Pharmacist Odunlami Ibidapo to inspect the quality of machinery installed at the factory.
The governor expressed gratitude and satisfaction over the installations, describing it as “one of the premier Pharmaceutical companies in West Africa because the Laboratory ranking is amongst the finest in Nigeria and all the requisite facilities are in place”.
The governor, whose mantra is “People’s first” said that “Presently, the cost of such machinery would be exorbitant due to the rising cost of Inflation” in the country.
He further explained the benefits of the Pharmaceutical company to the state health sector, particularly that it would contribute to the state health insurance scheme.
For this and many other benefits yet unfolded, Governnor Otu’s administration has made a promise of commitment to ensure the production of essential medical consumables for treatment and prevention of common dieases condition of the state through the company.
Also, he also underscored the importance of the company in addressing the endemic challenge of youths unemployment through the factory because the ripple effect will be vast and full scale if the capacity production is met to while the supplies chains will also be impactful.
On the sources of raw material for the company’s production, he expressed satisfaction that this would be significantly supply locally to also bolster the regional economy.
Speaking earlier, the Technical Director of the Company, Pharmacist Odunlami Ibidapo revealed that the factory have meet International Standard and is also equiped with cutting-edge facilities, positioning it among the global elites class.
He explained that Calapharm factory will specialize in the manufacturing of tablets, capsules, liquids such as Syrups, Suspensions, mixtures, Creams and Ointments, Steroids, with nasal drops, eye drops and ear drops plus a host of other benefits fields that would have interest of the community, the state and the Nigerian society at large.
It could be recalled that the vision for Calapharm factory commence in 2017 but not without the hiccups which delayed its operational take-off till now when he emerged in 2023.
