Guardian Nigeria
The Federal Government has pledged to begin regulation of aesthetic healthcare to cater to the growing society of aesthetic professionals and create a safe and flourishing business environment.
Minister of State for Health, Dr Tuni Alausa, declared this in Lagos during the grand opening of Nigeria’s first full-fledged aesthetic solutions distributed by Afrimed Clinic, a subsidiary of Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited, an African syringe factory.
Alausa said the need for regulation was in recognition of the importance of aesthetics in the country’s healthcare system.
The minister, who described the opening as a significant milestone in the country’s healthcare journey, said it would create new avenues for advanced aesthetic treatment and technologies to enhance the citizens’ well-being.
He said: “People are now more exposed. We have a population of 220 million, and 55 per cent of the people are younger than 50 years. As a government, we have to be sure that this kind of healthcare, with this huge population, is regulated; so we can create a very safe and flourishing business environment.
“Aesthetics in healthcare is not merely appearance; it is deeply intertwined with our health and quality of life. It addresses issues ranging from skin parts to reconstructive surgery. Aesthetic solutions play a crucial role in a comprehensive healthcare environment.”
Congratulating Afrimed for becoming Nigeria’s first full-fledged aesthetic solution distributor, the minister stressed that the establishment of the outfit signified its commitment to medical aesthetics to Nigerians.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Mikano International, the parent company of Afrimedical, Mofid Karameh, explained the importance of aesthetic medicine in Nigeria, noting that Afrimedical always goes for the best.
As pioneers in Africa, he noted, the firm is dedicated to introducing the latest advancements in aesthetic technology through strategic collaborations with leading global experts.
Reassuring stakeholders on the quality of the product, Karameh, said every product coming from Mikano International Limited was top-notch.
He said: “We have done a lot over the years and we will continue to do the best work. I am sure the product which is coming from us will be the best in the country.
“Our syringe manufacturing subsidiary, Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited has one of Africa’s largest syringe factories, built following WHO standards, right here in Nigeria, with an annual production capacity of 1.8 billion syringes per annum.
“Our syringes are ISO certified and are sterilised using the latest Electron Beam Sterilisation technology.”
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Afrimed, Dr Elias Chabtini, said the company was excited to unveil its products.
He said: “We have been studying the Nigerian market for a while now and it has been one year now that we opened our base for West Africa here in Nigeria.
“We have the first company that provides the A-Z concept of any clinical field, such as dermatology, plastic surgery and aesthetics.
“The Nigerian market is big, the only thing is that there is no provider. Nobody is educating the doctors, nobody is educating the therapists and sourcing products is very difficult because there is no supplier.
“We decided to elevate the supply of products and cater for the needs because it is the biggest market in Africa.”
Elias asserted that the reason multinational companies were leaving the Nigerian market was that they did not know how to work in such an environment.
He added: “When people come and stay in Nigeria, it is because they see the bigger picture.”
