Making Lifesaving Medication Accessible in Nigeria

The Procurement and Supply Chain Management Division of Nigeria’s National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) is responsible for critical supply chain activities such as identifying and planning for necessary HIV commodities; sourcing and purchasing these commodities; managing storage and delivery to healthcare facilities; ensuring the quality and efficacy of products; securing funding for supply chain operations; and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to optimize supply chain performance. In addition, the HIV National Quantification Team (NQT), comprising representatives from NASCP, USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, is dedicated to implementing supply chain strategies aligned with the National HIV Technical Working Group’s decisions.

We spoke to Pharmacist Mohammed Ibrahim Patiko, who has been working in health supply chain management since 2004, to understand more about dealing with health supply chain challenges in Nigeria, and the importance of an effective health supply chain in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In his dual roles as head of procurement and supply chain management for NASCP and lead of the NQT, he oversees all supply chain activities for Nigeria’s HIV program, while leading and coordinating the NQT’s efforts. Ibrahim’s primary motivation is to address supply chain challenges and ensure a consistent supply of HIV commodities in Nigeria. This involves coordinating donor funding, optimizing commodity procurement and distribution, and minimizing stockouts and waste. He says, “Ultimately, I strive to ensure that lifesaving HIV medications are accessible to those who need them.”

According to Ibrahim, some of the key challenges facing Nigeria’s health supply chain, particularly in the context of HIV, include improving the quality of logistics data from healthcare facilities; addressing limitations in warehouse space; dealing with a shortage of healthcare workers at various levels; and navigating insufficient funding for essential HIV commodities, including adult HIV drugs and third-line antiretroviral therapy. USAID’s support, through GHSC-PSM, has been instrumental in addressing several of these challenges, including by providing funding and training for forecasting and supply planning activities, and enhancing visibility into the supply chain through tools like the Quantification Analytics Tool dashboard and warehouse reports. He adds that GHSC-PSM plays a significant role in supporting government-led supply chain activities, including forecasting, procurement, warehousing, distribution, and data management. GHSC-PSM  also contributes to implementing strategic initiatives like transitioning to new treatment regimens, introducing vendor management solutions, and conducting capacity-building programs.

Effective procurement and supply chain management are essential for ensuring the availability of diagnostic, prevention, and treatment HIV commodities. This enables individuals to know their HIV status, access timely treatment, and achieve viral load suppression. This is crucial for realizing Nigeria’s goal of achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets – 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of people with a diagnosed HIV infection receive antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of people receiving antiretroviral therapy have an undetectable viral load.