The Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), Associate Professor (Dr.) Patrick Dakum, has paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Central Medical Store (FCMS), Oshodi, Lagos, to strengthen collaboration and explore practical solutions for improving warehousing, commodity management, and distribution of essential health products.
The visit provided an opportunity for IHVN and FCMS leadership to jointly assess the realities affecting warehouse operations and identify immediate and long-term measures to strengthen the country’s health commodity supply chain. Discussions centered on integration, sustainability, accountability, innovation, transition, and country ownership, with particular emphasis on ensuring that commodities are efficiently managed and delivered to the facilities and communities that need them.
“Integration” was a central theme of the engagement. Dr. Dakum stressed the importance of integrating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria commodities, logistics, data, and communication systems to improve visibility, optimize available storage space, reduce wastage, and facilitate timely distribution across the country.
During a tour of the warehouses, the CEO observed challenges and highlighted the need for a sustainable electronic inventory management system that can provide real-time visibility of commodities across the supply chain. Dr. Dakum advocated for a government-owned, interoperable, and cost-effective system that can be maintained beyond donor-supported interventions, including opportunities to leverage existing government platforms.
The Head of FCMS, Pharm. Lara Oderinde, welcomed the engagement and reaffirmed the facility’s readiness to work with IHVN and other stakeholders to strengthen integrated warehouse management and distribution. She highlighted persistent challenges related to staffing, infrastructure maintenance, funding, inventory management, waste disposal, and professional capacity, while emphasizing the importance of sustainable government investment in the facility.
Dr. Dakum reaffirmed IHVN’s commitment to supporting advocacy and stakeholder engagement around these priorities, particularly as the country advances toward increasing domestic financing and ownership of health programmes. He stressed that investments in warehousing, logistics, infrastructure, human resources, and digital systems must be designed for long-term sustainability and responsible use of both government and partner resources.
The engagement further strengthened the collaborative relationship between IHVN and FCMS and created a platform for continued dialogue, advocacy, and coordinated action. As preparations for Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 (GC8) advance, the insights from the visit will inform efforts to strengthen warehousing and distribution systems, promote domestic resource mobilization, and support a more resilient, integrated, and sustainable health commodity supply chain in Nigeria.
Pictures showing A. The IHVN CEO (Dr. Patrick Dakum) meeting with the Head FCMS and her team in their conference room. B. The IHVN CEO, the Head FCMS, her team, and staff of the IHVN Lagos team for a group photograph in the required safety gear ahead of the warehouse inspection and its operations.
Pictures showing procession the IHVN and FCMS teams for the inspection tour and inspection of the storage room which requires shelving racks for improved organization, accessibility, and storage of smaller commodities, Dr. Patrick Dakum signs the warehouse register at each site. Post facility tour picture with the CEO IHVN signing out.
Samples of commodities, including an IHVN-procured commodity labelled with key inventory details such as expiry date, batch number, and quantity, alongside UNFPA condoms pre-labelled for distribution to Kano State prior to delivery to the Federal Central Medical Store (FCMS).