Bayelsa authorities are interested in developing a cooperative partnership in the production of vaccines and other drugs. Photo: Prensa Latina

Havana, July 5 (RHC)-- A delegation from the Nigerian state of Bayelsa will meet on Tuesday with executives of the BioCubaFarma Business Group  to evaluate the cooperation they can provide to the pharmacological development of that important state.

Bayelsa authorities are interested in developing a cooperative partnership in the production of vaccines and other drugs, in addition to promoting a biopharmacological knowledge exchange program.

"We are confident in the experience and accumulated knowledge of the Cubans in these important fields, hence our interest in entering into collaboration agreements," said Bayelsa's Health Commissioner, Pabara Newton Igwele.

According to diplomats from the Nigerian Embassy, the visiting delegation hopes that a partnership with Cuba will generate scientific cooperation, technology transfer, academic collaboration and the co-production of vaccines and other pharmacological products that will benefit the people of the Niger Delta, Nigeria and nations of the West African sub-region.

Accompanying Governor Douye Diri were the Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, Oliemen Erica Abah; his special adviser Michael Ebisindor Zuokumor; the Vice Chancellor of the Bayelsa University of Medical Sciences, Professor Ibitimitula Nicholas Etebu, and the Nigerian Ambassador to Cuba, Benaoyagha B. M. Okoyen, in addition to three other officials.

On Monday, at the Comercializadora de Servicios Medicos de Cuba, the delegation discussed the potential of establishing an agreement for the academic training on the island of young people from Bayelsa in medicine, pharmacy, nursing and electromedical engineering.

They also learned first-hand about the possibilities of collaboration in the sugar industry, as well as in other scientific and technological fields.

The Bayelsa government's interest in achieving universal health coverage in that important state motivated Governor Diri to travel to Havana with his delegation of executives in search of collaboration.