By Kadrie Koroma
A top Quality Research driven Scientific based International Company, Merck Pharmaceutical Group of Company has lauded Sierra Leone for its efficient quality control administration in the Pharmaceutical Sector.
Group photo of visiting team and senior officials of the Ministry including the Minister and his deputies
Speaking during a courtesy call on the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah at his Youyi Building office in Freetown, the Chairman Executive Board and Family Board, Merck Pharmaceutical Group of Company, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp said their mission aims at introducing their products and to assist governments around the world with quality and standard products.
Chairman Executive Board and Family Board, Merck Pharmaceutical
Group of Company, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp
He reiterated their desire to make available their products, as well as helping governments to increase the level of health care services through a social security responsible programme, particularly for the African region.
As a top quality research driven scientific based company with 20 years of traveling experience, Prof. Dr. Stangenberg-Haverkamp told the Minister and senior officials of the Ministry that they are impressed with Sierra Leone’s administrative structures in rebuilding a resilient system, disclosing that they also operates in 12 African countries with the francophone headquarter in Abidjan.
Making his contribution, Merck’s President, North and West Africa Group, Dr. Karim Bendhaou reiterated the need for public private partnership with a view to supporting countries with standard pharmaceutical drugs.
Merck’s President, North and West Africa Group, Dr. Karim Bendhaou
He said they are committed to the elimination of schistosomiasis, and that they executes humanitarian programmes with USAID, WHO, NGOs and several others to ensure that their products are properly distributed.
Responding, Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah described the visit as timely noting that the country has just experienced one of the biggest outbreak of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever in the world which has had an adverse effect on the economic and social lives of the people.
Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah
He informed the team that His Excellency the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma coming from a private sector background holds the private sector to a very high esteem, and still beliefs that the private sector is key to economic development, adding that President Koroma is very interested in the private sector collaboration and that the Ministry sees the visit as an opportunity.
Dr. Fofanah described the Health Ministry as a viable institution that believes in productive partnership disclosing their challenges in storage, distribution and quality control of drugs.
He commended the team for choosing Sierra Leone to showcase their products and looks forward to a fruitful collaboration.
