U.S. Government Partners with Nigeria on Natural Drug Research to Improve the Health of Nigerians
Abuja, May 12, 2009

Ambassador Sanders making remarks at the Research Continuum in Natural Products Drug Discovery symposium in Abuja. | FULL SIZE

Ambassador Robin Renée Sanders said today that support for collaborative biomedical research that addresses Nigerian priorities is an important component of the U.S. partnership with Nigeria to improve the health of the people of Nigeria.  Ambassador Sanders spoke at the opening of a three days symposium on “The Research Continuum in Natural Products Drug Discovery” at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The Honorable Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin spoke as Special Guest of Honor at the opening ceremony.  He praised U.S. cooperation with Nigeria, saying “millions of Nigerians are alive today because of the U.S. Government intervention.”

The symposium is jointly organized by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the United States National Institutes of Health, in collaboration with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria.  This event brings together international and Nigerian scientists working in the area of natural products drug discovery to showcase opportunities for international researchers to work collaboratively with the NIPRD.

Ambassador Sanders told the participants that over the past five years the U.S. Government has partnered with the Nigerian Government to help support scientific research and laboratory enhancements to support research on new drugs based on natural products, especially drugs to prevent and treat tuberculosis.   “As you know, tuberculosis causes a heavy burden on the people of Nigeria and new therapeutic drugs are urgently needed,” she emphasized adding that “NIH and NIPRD scientists have been engaged in joint research activities to test the efficacy of remedies for tuberculosis used by traditional healers.”  Ambassador Sanders said she hopes that this collaboration continues and results in better therapeutic products.