Africa producing generic drugs
Featured
Dr. Rolande R. Hodel, AIDSfreeAFRICA
Today people generally consider food, shelter and education to be basic human rights. The goal of AIDSfreeAFRICA is to add to this list of basic human rights: access to important generic drugs. This is critically important since each day more than 8,000 Africans die as a result of treatable diseases. This tragedy cannot be resolved by simply shipping drugs into Africa and hoping for the best. Rather; because of the difficulties in moving goods across borders in Africa, it is essential
that developing countries have their own local pharmaceutical production facilities.
Dr. Rolande Hodel, the founder of AIDSfreeAFRICA, believes that her plans for building pharmaceutical production facilities in Africa can significantly lower the number of deaths there. The first steps in achieving this goal can start with simply having local facilities in Africa acquire critical pharmaceuticals in bulk. Such pharmaceuticals would include those for treating and/or preventing conditions such as malaria and HIV/AIDS as well as analgesics. Thereafter full-scale production facilities would be constructed. Accordingly, AIDSfreeAFRICA’s immediate plans include assisting a facility in Cameroon in acquiring important generic pharmaceuticals from India in bulk quantities. Trained pharmacists and technicians will then package these drugs and provide them to local pharmacies and hospitals. All available local drug procurement and distribution means will then be used to quickly get these drugs to those who need them most.
The Vision of AIDSfreeAFRICA is:
Africa free of HIV/AIDS; providing the world with the capacity to produce lifesaving drugs is an expression of our commitment to peace, health and human dignity.
The Mission of AIDSfreeAFRICA is:
AIDSfreeAFRICA is a community of professionals dedicated to empowering Africans to be come self-sufficient in producing pharmaceuticals.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Background and Our Program Model
In 2001 the United Nations Security Council held a special session on the global health crisis. It was clear to the Security Council members that where 10% of the worlds population carries the burden of 70% of all HIV/AIDS infections, this constitutes a global threat to the security of all countries.
In the United States, we are justifiably concerned about the increasing prevalence of fatherless households. But in Africa there are “adultless” households headed by children. Imagine the outcry in the United States if it were common for a 12-year-old to raise his or her younger siblings without any adult presence or supervision. Unfortunately this happens all too often in Africa.
To be cost effective in the United States pharmaceutical companiees build large production facilities. This approach is reasonable here because the pharmaceutical industry can depend on a functioning transportation and distribution infrastructure. The continent of Africa, however, is huge, roads hardly exist and transport is expensive. It makes sense, therefore, to build smaller production facilities in several locations in Africa to avoid dependence on unreliable infrastruture. This solution has the added benefit of being environmentally friendly and conserving energy.
AIDSfreeAFRICA understands the truth contained within the saying: “Give people a fish and they eat for a day; teach them to fish and they will never go hungry.” That is why every project in which we are involved, is and will be 100% owned by Africans. We non-Africans act merely as advisors and provide technology transfer, technical advice and financial support in the form of low interest loans. The facilities are built by Africans and are operated by Africans. Day to day business is conducted in an ethical but distinctly African manner. This is reasonable, especially since AIDSfreeAFRICA plans to move to new facilities in other areas and does not plan on maintaining a permanent presence in any one location.
Those who own and operate each facility will determine which specific drugs they wish to produce. Our role would include providing information on intellectual property rights to ensure the drugs chosen to be produced are not protected by the existing patent rights of others. Our approach allows us to implement scientific solutions that are currently available rather than spending resources to develop new drugs. There already exist safe and effective medicines for the majority of important illnesses. Our plan simply allows important medications to reach the people who need them the most. This model can be replicated at each new location.
Our plan is achievable and success is verifiable. Success can be confirmed by seeing important drugs on pharmacy shelves in hospitals and clinics. We also will see the numbers of patients receiving drugs increase and eventually a concomitant decrease in morbidity and mortality.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Our First Project
Our first project involves a pharmaceutical factory currently under construction in Cameroon owned and operated by Diamond Pharmaceuticals. We are in the process of raising at least $500,000 to buy equipment, hire trainers, pay for installation, salaries, bulk drugs, packaging material, printing cost, shipping, taxes and duties.
Diamond Pharmaceuticals is also supported by shareholders. The three majority shareholders include two pharmacists and an engineer, all of whom are Cameroonian citizens living in Cameroon. In addition, there are 30 minority shareholders, all of whom are Cameroonians living in the United States. Although there is an expectation of return on investement, all shareholders understand that for many years all profit will first be used to expand the factory. In addition, it is also understood that mission and non-profit hospitals and clinics will receive products at cost.
As a non-profit organization, AIDSfreeAFRICA’s financial contributions are made in the form of low interest loans. Our low interest loans are particularly important since institutional loans in Cameroon usually carry interest rates approaching 20% and thus are not practical for these types of projects. Diamond Pharmaceuticals’ repayment of our low interest loans will provide some or potentially all of the resources needed for the next factory, thus reproducing the model without relying solely on donations.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Our Fundraising
AIDSfreeAFRICA depends on money raised through private donations from foundations including the New Tudor Foundation, the Avrum Katz Foundation and the Wyman Foundation. We have also discussed our project with Rotary and hope to receive assistance from them shortly.
In addition, we have aquired a great deal of valuable expertise in the subleties of doing business in Africa, particularly in the area of drug procurement and delivery. This expertise was important in launching our first collaboration with Tibotec, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Tibotec recognized the importance of our expertise before providing us with a generous contribution. This contribution is enabling us to provide to Cameroon an urgently needed antifungal drug for the treatment of opportunistic infections caused by HIV/AIDS. This collaboration will be expanded into several other African countries as well.
Dr. Hodel also has been an active speaker to diverse audiences in events across the United States. She is a dedicated National Tour Speaker from the American Chemical Society. She has spoken to numerous groups at scientific conferences, universities, high schools, churches and rotary clubs. Dr. Hodel recently participated on a panel at Yale University Law School on “Drugs, Development & Universities. Why are essential drugs still unavailable in poor countries?” She is available for speaking engagements, the fees from which are added to our fundraising totals.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Our People
Dr. Hodel spends 3 months each year in Africa. She has researched the business culture in Africa and the viable non-profit solutions that could be used there. Dr. Hodel is a designated Tour Speaker for the American Chemical Society (ACS), a professional organization with 150,000 expert members. She has been nominated for the Astella Award administered by the ACS. She has also been nominated for the Women E-News award honoring “21 Leaders of the 21st Century”. She has developed a reliable and expanding donor base and has received the commitment of numerous willing volunteers. Dr. Hodel currently runs the day-to-day operations of the organization. In 2008 we plan to add several new board memebers enabling Dr. Hodel to focus more directly on pharmaceutical production issues.
In addition to Dr. Hodel, board of directors members include Dr. Elliot Bay and Robert Alderson. Dr. Bay is an expert in drug manufacturing. Mr. Alderson is a patent attorney with the law firm of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel in New York City. Kramer Levin provides intellectual property and corporate sevices to our organization on a pro bono basis.
Several advisors are associated with our organization. These include Bill Haddad, CEO of a generic drug company in Brewster, New York; Gary Sealey, president of an international peace organization who has particular skills in non-profit operations; Cindy Ecoton, formerly of the Ford Foundation who has special expertise in grant-related issues. Jose Zambrana is an IT specialist who has assisted us with our IT needs. Denis Rasia designed and maintains our website. Ann Higgins is our fundraising specialist. Recently, a local rotary club agreed to raise money so that we could acquire a major piece of production equipment for use in Cameroon.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Collaborating and/or Supporting Organizations
We collaborate with or otherwise receive support from organizations including: ChemistsWithout Borders, National Organization for Women, the American Chemical Society, Westchester Coalition Against Poverty and AIDS, the Cameroonian Baptist Convention Mission Hospitals.
Dr. Rolande Hodel, the founder of AIDSfreeAFRICA, believes that her plans for building pharmaceutical production facilities in Africa can significantly lower the number of deaths there. The first steps in achieving this goal can start with simply having local facilities in Africa acquire critical pharmaceuticals in bulk. Such pharmaceuticals would include those for treating and/or preventing conditions such as malaria and HIV/AIDS as well as analgesics. Thereafter full-scale production facilities would be constructed. Accordingly, AIDSfreeAFRICA’s immediate plans include assisting a facility in Cameroon in acquiring important generic pharmaceuticals from India in bulk quantities. Trained pharmacists and technicians will then package these drugs and provide them to local pharmacies and hospitals. All available local drug procurement and distribution means will then be used to quickly get these drugs to those who need them most.
The Vision of AIDSfreeAFRICA is:
Africa free of HIV/AIDS; providing the world with the capacity to produce lifesaving drugs is an expression of our commitment to peace, health and human dignity.
The Mission of AIDSfreeAFRICA is:
AIDSfreeAFRICA is a community of professionals dedicated to empowering Africans to be come self-sufficient in producing pharmaceuticals.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Background and Our Program Model
In 2001 the United Nations Security Council held a special session on the global health crisis. It was clear to the Security Council members that where 10% of the worlds population carries the burden of 70% of all HIV/AIDS infections, this constitutes a global threat to the security of all countries.
In the United States, we are justifiably concerned about the increasing prevalence of fatherless households. But in Africa there are “adultless” households headed by children. Imagine the outcry in the United States if it were common for a 12-year-old to raise his or her younger siblings without any adult presence or supervision. Unfortunately this happens all too often in Africa.
To be cost effective in the United States pharmaceutical companiees build large production facilities. This approach is reasonable here because the pharmaceutical industry can depend on a functioning transportation and distribution infrastructure. The continent of Africa, however, is huge, roads hardly exist and transport is expensive. It makes sense, therefore, to build smaller production facilities in several locations in Africa to avoid dependence on unreliable infrastruture. This solution has the added benefit of being environmentally friendly and conserving energy.
AIDSfreeAFRICA understands the truth contained within the saying: “Give people a fish and they eat for a day; teach them to fish and they will never go hungry.” That is why every project in which we are involved, is and will be 100% owned by Africans. We non-Africans act merely as advisors and provide technology transfer, technical advice and financial support in the form of low interest loans. The facilities are built by Africans and are operated by Africans. Day to day business is conducted in an ethical but distinctly African manner. This is reasonable, especially since AIDSfreeAFRICA plans to move to new facilities in other areas and does not plan on maintaining a permanent presence in any one location.
Those who own and operate each facility will determine which specific drugs they wish to produce. Our role would include providing information on intellectual property rights to ensure the drugs chosen to be produced are not protected by the existing patent rights of others. Our approach allows us to implement scientific solutions that are currently available rather than spending resources to develop new drugs. There already exist safe and effective medicines for the majority of important illnesses. Our plan simply allows important medications to reach the people who need them the most. This model can be replicated at each new location.
Our plan is achievable and success is verifiable. Success can be confirmed by seeing important drugs on pharmacy shelves in hospitals and clinics. We also will see the numbers of patients receiving drugs increase and eventually a concomitant decrease in morbidity and mortality.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Our First Project
Our first project involves a pharmaceutical factory currently under construction in Cameroon owned and operated by Diamond Pharmaceuticals. We are in the process of raising at least $500,000 to buy equipment, hire trainers, pay for installation, salaries, bulk drugs, packaging material, printing cost, shipping, taxes and duties.
Diamond Pharmaceuticals is also supported by shareholders. The three majority shareholders include two pharmacists and an engineer, all of whom are Cameroonian citizens living in Cameroon. In addition, there are 30 minority shareholders, all of whom are Cameroonians living in the United States. Although there is an expectation of return on investement, all shareholders understand that for many years all profit will first be used to expand the factory. In addition, it is also understood that mission and non-profit hospitals and clinics will receive products at cost.
As a non-profit organization, AIDSfreeAFRICA’s financial contributions are made in the form of low interest loans. Our low interest loans are particularly important since institutional loans in Cameroon usually carry interest rates approaching 20% and thus are not practical for these types of projects. Diamond Pharmaceuticals’ repayment of our low interest loans will provide some or potentially all of the resources needed for the next factory, thus reproducing the model without relying solely on donations.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Our Fundraising
AIDSfreeAFRICA depends on money raised through private donations from foundations including the New Tudor Foundation, the Avrum Katz Foundation and the Wyman Foundation. We have also discussed our project with Rotary and hope to receive assistance from them shortly.
In addition, we have aquired a great deal of valuable expertise in the subleties of doing business in Africa, particularly in the area of drug procurement and delivery. This expertise was important in launching our first collaboration with Tibotec, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Tibotec recognized the importance of our expertise before providing us with a generous contribution. This contribution is enabling us to provide to Cameroon an urgently needed antifungal drug for the treatment of opportunistic infections caused by HIV/AIDS. This collaboration will be expanded into several other African countries as well.
Dr. Hodel also has been an active speaker to diverse audiences in events across the United States. She is a dedicated National Tour Speaker from the American Chemical Society. She has spoken to numerous groups at scientific conferences, universities, high schools, churches and rotary clubs. Dr. Hodel recently participated on a panel at Yale University Law School on “Drugs, Development & Universities. Why are essential drugs still unavailable in poor countries?” She is available for speaking engagements, the fees from which are added to our fundraising totals.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Our People
Dr. Hodel spends 3 months each year in Africa. She has researched the business culture in Africa and the viable non-profit solutions that could be used there. Dr. Hodel is a designated Tour Speaker for the American Chemical Society (ACS), a professional organization with 150,000 expert members. She has been nominated for the Astella Award administered by the ACS. She has also been nominated for the Women E-News award honoring “21 Leaders of the 21st Century”. She has developed a reliable and expanding donor base and has received the commitment of numerous willing volunteers. Dr. Hodel currently runs the day-to-day operations of the organization. In 2008 we plan to add several new board memebers enabling Dr. Hodel to focus more directly on pharmaceutical production issues.
In addition to Dr. Hodel, board of directors members include Dr. Elliot Bay and Robert Alderson. Dr. Bay is an expert in drug manufacturing. Mr. Alderson is a patent attorney with the law firm of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel in New York City. Kramer Levin provides intellectual property and corporate sevices to our organization on a pro bono basis.
Several advisors are associated with our organization. These include Bill Haddad, CEO of a generic drug company in Brewster, New York; Gary Sealey, president of an international peace organization who has particular skills in non-profit operations; Cindy Ecoton, formerly of the Ford Foundation who has special expertise in grant-related issues. Jose Zambrana is an IT specialist who has assisted us with our IT needs. Denis Rasia designed and maintains our website. Ann Higgins is our fundraising specialist. Recently, a local rotary club agreed to raise money so that we could acquire a major piece of production equipment for use in Cameroon.
AIDSfreeAFRICA – Collaborating and/or Supporting Organizations
We collaborate with or otherwise receive support from organizations including: ChemistsWithout Borders, National Organization for Women, the American Chemical Society, Westchester Coalition Against Poverty and AIDS, the Cameroonian Baptist Convention Mission Hospitals.
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