I’m at loss why Nigerian Government shunned its indigenous vaccine, prefers to import AstraZeneca — Prof Happi

The African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) located at Redeemers University, Ede Osun State has a mandate to identify and characterize pathogens of unknown origin using microbial metagenomics to control, manage and eliminate infectious diseases like Ebola, Lassa Fever,COVID-19 from the African continent. In this interview with Anu Oyeleye of Nigerian NewsDirect, the Director of the Centre, Professor Christain Happi explains the steps, innovations taken by the centre to ensure that Africa is free from epidemics.

The rationale for the establishment of African Center of Excellence was to develop the capacity of Africans in the area of research especially in the area of infectious diseases, how far has this centre gone in delivering this objective?

I think the Centre has gone far ahead in delivering the objectives set for it by moving very fast in developing some of the most innovative technologies that are used to address issues of  epidemics or pandemics. For Ebola, we developed the first generation rapid diagnostics test kit. We developed a similar dianotics test for Lassa fever, we helped Nigeria contain the Ebola outbreak in 93 days, We’ve developed latest technology in terms of sequencing and viruses. And, also in terms of capacity building, we’ve done incredibly well because we’ve trained over 1000 African scientists in this field, empowering them not only to gain knowledge but using the skills to address important questions and solving societal  issues. For example, in most West African Countries, those that are leading the fight against COVID-19 pandemic are people we trained. That for us is a huge milestone. Apart from that, we’ve done things that are unprecedented. Helping Africa to set up its first genome the is the first genetic structure of COVID-19  within 48 hours of receiving samples from the first patient in Nigeria.  We moved ahead of that to developing a better diagnostics test for the COVID-19 virus within two months of the outbreak. We’ve also gone on to developing a candidate vaccine for the virus. I think this Centre has exceeded its objectives. Yes, the objectives are long term but in eight years, we’ve done what other centres across the globe would achieve in decades.

You mentioned that the Centre has developed a vaccine that can be used against COVID-19 so why is Africa particularly Nigeria bringing in vaccines from foreign countries?

It is the choice of the Country; it is the choice of Africans. Africans still live in their colonial minds; they don’t believe in themselves and what they can do. They believe so much in buying and importing. It is typical of Africans to believe that anything from western countries is better. The Candidate Vaccine we developed for COVID-19 is already undergoing clinical trials in United Kingdom. They are accepting it but our own government would not. And, that is why we are still under-developed. I believe Africans have been so battered that they’ve accepted that they are good for nothing. Look all over the world, African professionals are doing extremely well but our mental attitude would not allow us appreciate excellence in ourselves. And we also do not put our money where our mouth is, there is a lot of lip-service and this has hindered our development. Although this experience is not only evident in Nigeria, It is across the continent.

The Diagnostic test that we developed in the Centre is used in the United States but not in Nigeria. The vaccine is almost at the stage of implementation in the U.K yet we refuse to use our own product. Everywhere in the world, the government is the one buying the vaccine; even if the private sector buys into it, it would be with the backing of the government. The vaccine has been presented on several platforms in this country and across the continent but has not been implemented simply because of our mindset. We prefer to receive foreign aids but unfortunately the countries that give aids have bigger problems and that are attending to their own needs first. Why should we still be receiving aids after 60 years of independence for most African countries? These are the serious issues we have in Africa. We should recognize that investing in research is very critical to development. If we don’t do it,  who will? If there is anything to learn from COVID-19 pandemic, it is that Africa is over-reliant. We are depending on the world for everything and it’s not that we can’t produce, we  just choose not to. In Nigeria for instance, all the funds provided by the private sector to fight COVID-19 is with the Central Bank. It is frustrating when there is a solution but you can’t scale it up. I think our leaders prefer the option of importing because of the kickbacks that occur in the process.

Do you think the rigorous process of gaining approval (testing, Clinical trials) might be the reason for non-acceptance?

It is the same process that the one adopted passed through, Moreover, that process can be accelerated. In the United States, it took 9 months from development to implementation. It is the same technology that the United States is using that we are using. Another thing is that they probably think the vaccine is coming late, it is not, but they think it is, we should be aiming to have a system in place for future emergencies.

In responding to disease outbreak such as COVID-19, is there anything that the Nigerian government should have done differently to bring greater results?

Now that we have refused to promote our own vaccine, it means that if anything comes up later, we would still be in a panic situation. African Governments should aim to be pro-active instead of reactive. The level of preparedness is low and could cause problems later. That is where the issue of funding comes in. Also we need to learn to leverage on what we have. When you leverage, you move faster. Governments need to support the Centers of excellence that we have to increase productivity because they would in turn help the government.

Given the huge resources at its disposal, could ACEGID not have achieved much more?

We’ve done way more than expectation. All the data generated, the  results, testing are given to the government to form better policies inspite of the fact that we are not funded by the government. Also, bear in mind that we are not only working for Nigeria but other African countries too. We’ve done sequencing for Cameroon, Somalia, Sudan. We are also training for them, Since Ebola in Nigeria, we’ve been active and still much are. With Lassa fever, we went from a disease that had no diagnosis to a vaccine within three years. Before ACEGID started working on Lassa fever, it was studied for seven years without results. This Centre has been able to do what a whole continent could not achieve for decades.

Is there any kind of regional cooperation in the handling of issues concerning infectious diseases in the ECOWAS sub-region?

The ECOWAS sub-region is not as co-operative as we expect. But we work actively with the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  CDC has a mandate of co-coordinating research and capacity across the continent. We work with the countries through CDC. We are helping countries both within and outside the ECOWAS region.

Which institutions inside and outside Nigeria does ACEGID currently collaborate with and how problem-solving have been the collaborations?

We collaborate with many institutions within and outside Nigeria. In Nigeria, we collaborate with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Institute of Lassa Fever and Control. We collaborate with major hospitals across the country for example, Federal Medical Centre Owo, Ondo State, Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital, Ebonyi State. Outside, we have collaborations with Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and University of San Francisco, California, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Defence. We collaborate with the best institutions in the world. The only reason we have such collaborations is because those institutions believe we are operating at the level that they are.

Are there emerging infectious diseases that this nation should be particularly concerned about?

Malaria is a disease that Nigeria ahould really fight, Cholera and Meningitis are also causes of worry. We should also be working on ensuring that Polio does not come back. Then, we should equally be prepared for Disease X. Disease X is any disease that might come up in the future that has the tendency of wiping out human kind. That is why this Centre is positioned to deal with diseases that are known and the pathogens that are not.

What are the key challenges faced by ACEGID in carrying out its research and training activities?

Funding is a big challenge. If it wasn’t, we would have ensured that the COVID-19 vaccine developed is delivered to Nigerians. Many people think we have a lot of money but we don’t. We keep looking for more avenues to get funds because a lot of the things we do are very expensive. The skills we employ, the technologies are all expensive. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to do what we would have loved to.

What is the best way to keep the citizens safe from outbreaks of infectious diseases considering the freedom of movement across borders?

The question is, can you prevent viruses and pathogens from moving? The answer is No, they move along with people and even without people. Viruses come from animals too. The solution is that there should be an integrated approach to curbing infectious diseases. There should be good communication across borders and emphasis on screening. Also, there should be a co-ordinate approach to responding to outbreaks. Once these are in place, we would be creating a safer world.

Based on your experience since the establishment of this Centre, what innovations will ACEGID be introducing into the understanding of the genomics of the infectious diseases?

We just launched a new programme called “SENTINEL.” It is an early warning system that gives actual warning concerning epidemics or pandemics. It helps to detect viruses or pathogens early enough before they come. This system would help us pre-empt the future. That is what we are working on and hoping to achieve in the next five years. When this is achieved, a virus like COVID-19 will not spring up in China  and be passed across the world.

What can be done to help increase research productivity in Nigeria?

On increasing research productivity, apart from funding, we need to change our mindset and start to believe in ourselves as Africans. For example, in Nigeria, the Diaspora scares those in the academia so much that when they see people bringing in innovations, they are petrified because they want to maintain the current status quo.  Africa needs to move from mediocrity and start embracing innovations.