Merck is a leading science and technology company in health care, which recently opened a new office in Lagos, because it is part of strategy to grow the market share of the company in the West African region.
Nigeria is a focal point of interest for the management, with a population that is known for its entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas, this is a perfect match with Merck. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has one of the fastest growing economies in the world and Merck believes that through high quality and innovative healthcare and life science specialty products and services the company can contribute to that growth.
The company recently launched its innovative Muse Auto CD4/CD4 per cent System, a portable instrument for monitoring the progression of the HIV/AIDS virus in Nigerian adults and children. As a life science leader, Merck aims to deliver the most innovative, highest quality products and services to help customers improve human health and life every day, everywhere. Through the launch of the Muse CD4/CD4 per cent system, the company is enabling health professionals in Nigeria to more effectively respond to the health care needs of their patients and make progress towards the treatment, cure, and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
The management has vowed to combat schistosomiasis, a disease that is very prominent in Nigeria. To this end, Merck donated 35 million tablets to the Nigerian health system so that children can be treated.
Merck is ready to help the Nigeria government to combat counterfeit medicines, which is a big problem in Nigeria and many other countries.
The health care system in Nigeria and other Africa countries has very much focused on infectious diseases like HIV, malaria, tuberculosis. They need to continue to reckon with these diseases, but the NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory disease, mental health are becoming more and more important and Merck is working with academic institutions so that medical students can be trained better in those areas.
The company is also getting involved in communities, so that local communities can do better at early detection of NCDs and to also work on lifestyle changes because many of these diseases can be prevented without drugs. With simple life changes, the risk can be reduced and if these diseases are detected early, they can be treated better.
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