Humanwell's medicines benefit 140 million people in West Africa
2024-09-08 20:09:13
Journalist: Liu Jie, Hubei Daily
Correspondent: Chen Peng
Translator and Editor: Tan Maolin
On September 4, trucks lined up at the Humanwell African Pharmaceutical factory in the Malian capital of Bamako to transport newly produced syrups and intravenous solutions to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies across the country.
"Ordinary people can now afford to buy medicine, which is a huge change compared to 10 years ago," said Li Wensheng, Chairman of Humanwell African Pharmaceutical.
Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, was one of the world's least developed countries a decade ago. Its pharmaceutical manufacturing industry was almost non-existent, and medical resources were scarce. People had to endure illnesses without proper treatment.
At the 2015 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa, 10 cooperation plans were proposed, including a China-Africa public health plan to support Chinese enterprises in drug production in Africa. Humanwell Healthcare Group, based in Hubei, responded by investing in Mali to build a factory. Humanwell's main production facility and R&D base are located in Yichang.
Li recalled: "I saw that the local people couldn't even afford basic medicines and intravenous solutions. It upset me. As a pharmaceutical business, we must ensure that the local people can afford and access medicine."
The factory team worked without an office, instead operating under a mango tree. They relied on local villagers' patrol teams for security during an ongoing civil conflict. Finally, in 2015, with local support, a high-standard modern pharmaceutical factory was completed. This was Mali's first local pharmaceutical factory and the first high-standard modern pharmaceutical factory in West Africa.
Since the factory began operation, it has produced 30 million bottles of syrup and 40 million bottles of intravenous solutions annually. High-quality, low-cost medicines are regularly delivered throughout Mali, reducing drug prices by more than 30 percent and addressing the urgent need for basic medicines in the local population.
Former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appreciated this project for benefitting the people of Mali, and helping Mali produce drugs independently. "Humanwell put an end to the history that Mali couldn't make medicine, and will benefit Malians," Keita once said.
Humanwell African Pharmaceutical not only benefited Mali, but also eight neighboring countries, greatly alleviating the shortage of medicines in the West African region with a population of 140 million. In 2016, Humanwell Pharmaceutical Ethiopia became the first Chinese pharmaceutical production enterprise in Ethiopia.
Humanwell has also established an anti-malaria center with Mali's Ministry of Health, providing free treatment for local patients and donating to local hospitals, orphanages, schools, and health centers. They have also provided clean water sources for residents.
In 2018, Li, the Chairman of Humanwell Africa, received the National Order of Mali medal, the country's highest honor for foreigners, excluding heads of state. "This represents the Malian people's recognition of the Chinese people, believing that we are one of them," Li said.
Correspondent: Chen Peng
Translator and Editor: Tan Maolin
On September 4, trucks lined up at the Humanwell African Pharmaceutical factory in the Malian capital of Bamako to transport newly produced syrups and intravenous solutions to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies across the country.
"Ordinary people can now afford to buy medicine, which is a huge change compared to 10 years ago," said Li Wensheng, Chairman of Humanwell African Pharmaceutical.
Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, was one of the world's least developed countries a decade ago. Its pharmaceutical manufacturing industry was almost non-existent, and medical resources were scarce. People had to endure illnesses without proper treatment.
At the 2015 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa, 10 cooperation plans were proposed, including a China-Africa public health plan to support Chinese enterprises in drug production in Africa. Humanwell Healthcare Group, based in Hubei, responded by investing in Mali to build a factory. Humanwell's main production facility and R&D base are located in Yichang.
Li recalled: "I saw that the local people couldn't even afford basic medicines and intravenous solutions. It upset me. As a pharmaceutical business, we must ensure that the local people can afford and access medicine."
The factory team worked without an office, instead operating under a mango tree. They relied on local villagers' patrol teams for security during an ongoing civil conflict. Finally, in 2015, with local support, a high-standard modern pharmaceutical factory was completed. This was Mali's first local pharmaceutical factory and the first high-standard modern pharmaceutical factory in West Africa.
Since the factory began operation, it has produced 30 million bottles of syrup and 40 million bottles of intravenous solutions annually. High-quality, low-cost medicines are regularly delivered throughout Mali, reducing drug prices by more than 30 percent and addressing the urgent need for basic medicines in the local population.
Former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appreciated this project for benefitting the people of Mali, and helping Mali produce drugs independently. "Humanwell put an end to the history that Mali couldn't make medicine, and will benefit Malians," Keita once said.
Humanwell African Pharmaceutical not only benefited Mali, but also eight neighboring countries, greatly alleviating the shortage of medicines in the West African region with a population of 140 million. In 2016, Humanwell Pharmaceutical Ethiopia became the first Chinese pharmaceutical production enterprise in Ethiopia.
Humanwell has also established an anti-malaria center with Mali's Ministry of Health, providing free treatment for local patients and donating to local hospitals, orphanages, schools, and health centers. They have also provided clean water sources for residents.
In 2018, Li, the Chairman of Humanwell Africa, received the National Order of Mali medal, the country's highest honor for foreigners, excluding heads of state. "This represents the Malian people's recognition of the Chinese people, believing that we are one of them," Li said.
