Firm boosts Nigeria’s malaria fight with local net production

File photo: The local production factory in Ogun State

As part of efforts to boost Nigeria’s fight against malaria, Harvestfield Healthcare FZE has commenced commercial production of Synera DuoForte, a next-generation insecticide-treated net in the country.

Operations at the company’s manufacturing facility in Ogun State commenced on September 13, 2026, marking a new phase in the country’s capacity to manufacture a critical malaria prevention intervention locally.

In a statement made available to The PUNCH on Sunday, Harvestfield, a Nigerian-owned company, said it manufactures the nets under a manufacturing agreement with GDM Health Products, producing Synera DuoForte, a dual active-ingredient long-lasting insecticidal net developed and owned by GDM.

Unlike conventional insecticide-treated nets that rely primarily on pyrethroids, the healthcare manufacturing company explained that Synera DuoForte combines pyrethroids with a second insecticide that works through a different mode of action.

Synera DuoForte is a World Health Organisation-prequalified product, developed and held under prequalification by GDM Health Products.

Speaking on the commencement of commercial operations, a representative of GDM Health Products, Jon Bastow, said, “GDM is pleased to strategically partner with Harvestfield to bring Synera DuoForte to Nigeria, the country with the biggest global malaria burden, and support the prequalification of Harvestfield’s Ogun State manufacturing facility to make Synera DuoForte.”

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Also commenting on the development, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, said building the capacity to manufacture health products locally was central to Nigeria’s health security.

“A Nigeria-based facility producing next-generation insecticide-treated nets to international standard, and already supplying programmes across 31 states, is the kind of capability the Renewed Hope Agenda was created to build,” he said.

Also, the Chairman, Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, Dr Abdul Mukhtar, stressed the role of local manufacturing in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare value chain.

“PVAC exists to move Nigeria from importing its health products to making them. What matters is not only that a factory exists, but that it meets the standards international buyers accept and can supply at national scale. A facility based in Nigeria doing both is precisely the outcome this initiative was created to unlock,” he said.

The Harvestfield group has operated in Nigerian vector control for 26 years, delivering more than 42 million insecticide-treated nets across all 36 states and serving as an exclusive national distribution partner for WHO-prequalified nets since 2018.