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Celebrating Excellence: Shalina Stars Event Showcases Global Achievements
We celebrated our Shalina Stars on April 24th at our Annual Shalina Global Gala Event and acknowledged the remarkable performance and contributions of our team
Understanding Blood Pressure: A Comprehensive Guide
What is healthy blood pressure? Your heart pumps blood around your body to supply it with the oxygen and energy it needs. As your blood
We are proud of our rich history that started more than thirty years ago in Central Africa
Deadly Deception: The Devastating Impact of Counterfeit Medicines in Africa
Counterfeit medicines are a grave problem across Africa, estimated to cause a staggering 500 000 deaths annually. These fake medicines may be contaminated or contain the wrong dose of active or even no active ingredient at all. It is estimated that counterfeit drugs make up around 10-30% of the pharmaceutical market in developing countries.
At Shalina Healthcare, we are deeply concerned by the threat of counterfeit medicines and are committed to safeguarding the well-being of our customers. We actively collaborate with governments, health authorities, and law enforcement agencies to fight the spread of counterfeit medicines. We employ various strategies globally to combat this issue and protect consumers.
We work closely with customs officials and surveillance agencies to identify and subsequently raid fake medicine producers and/or distributors. We take legal action against fake medicine manufacturers and distributors to dismantle counterfeit networks and protect consumers.
We have partnered with Sproxil, a leading provider of anti-counterfeit solutions, to introduce anti-counterfeit stickers on our most popular brands, particularly in the anti-infectives and anti-malarial categories. These stickers are difficult to replicate and allow customers and distributors to easily verify the authenticity of our medicines by scanning a unique code.
Lastly, one of the best ways to beat counterfeit medicines is through education. Hence, we continue our efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit drugs and educate the public on how to identify genuine medicines.
We will continue to remain vigilant and proactive in defending our brand and the safety of the African population. Together, we can make a difference and ensure access to safe, reliable, and high-quality healthcare for all.
Building Trust and Reputation through WHO Compliance
Spanning nearly 4 decades, we have been committed to providing consistently high-quality healthcare products and do so by conforming to regulatory guidelines in every country we operate in.
Our factory in India is both WHO-cGMP compliant and approved by the regulatory bodies of the countries we supply to. WHO-cGMP compliance refers to adherence to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) guidelines.
Our manufacturing plant in Jejuri, near Pune in Maharashtra is spread over a sprawling 8000 square metres. Our facility is built to adhere to the most stringent operating procedures of cGMP in conformity with national and international standards. We use state-of-the-art technology, a highly motivated and technically competent team, the highest standards of safety practices and environmentally green and clean processes.
Our WHO status fills us with pride, and we fully support their mission of advocating for healthcare accessibility for everyone to achieve the highest level of health and well-being.
The Power of Giving: How Our CSR Initiatives Change Lives for Good
In early 2020 we partnered with a local NGO to fund and initiate a water conservation project on the Agrani River in India. The river has been running dry for many decades, and the project aimed to restore traditional water catchment systems and revitalize crucial rural communities and ecosystems.
The project has directly impacted the lives of 35,000 people, eradicating water-borne diseases, and increasing crop production. The once-barren area has been transformed into a horticultural belt, providing an ongoing and self-sustaining source of income for the villagers. As always, we are committed to the ethos of improving people’s lives in the regions where we operate and investing in philanthropic efforts to leave a legacy of sustainable progress.
The Agrani River has been drying for many decades, making an abundant life impossible for local farmers and villagers, who rely on it for their livelihoods. To make matters worse, small pockets of stagnant water pooled close to these villages, greatly increasing mosquito numbers. As a result, vulnerable children were constantly suffering from diseases like typhoid and malaria.
The project, completed recently, directly impacted the lives of 35 000 people. Water-borne diseases have been eradicated, and crops are flourishing. Dyaneshwar Bhosale, a local farmer, said, “Earlier, we were harvesting only seasonal crops, but through the Shalina Laboratories project, we farmers were transformed. Today, I have 22 acres!”
The successful water conservation project has brought long-term benefits to the local communities. Farmers in the area have seen a significant increase in their annual production, and many of them no longer have to rely on external sources of water for their crops. The once barren and dry area has been transformed into a horticultural belt, providing an ongoing and self-sustaining source of income for the villagers.
Nothing pleases us more than knowing that we have planted the seeds of future joy and prosperity. Our commitment to bringing about positive change in the communities we serve is unwavering, and we remain dedicated to improving people’s lives in the regions where we operate. By continuing to invest in philanthropic efforts like this, we hope to leave a legacy of sustainable progress that will benefit generations far into the future.
Empowering Women: Our Commitment to Gender Equity in Healthcare
We believe that every woman deserves access to the resources necessary for a healthy and fulfilling life. So, for almost four decades, we have been working tirelessly towards achieving equity in healthcare, reaching thousands of women in Africa and leading them towards healthier lives.
Through our products, projects and services, we have been able to provide much-needed resources to women who may not have otherwise had access to quality, affordable healthcare. We are proud of the progress we have made towards promoting gender equity, in both the community and our own workforce. For example, we take great pride in having an equal proportion of both male and female employees in managerial roles.
We celebrate our progress as a diverse workforce that drives innovation, improves productivity and profitability, and as we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting gender equity and uplifting women in our community. We believe that our continued efforts will lead to a healthier, more prosperous community for all.
Final round in the Shalina Young Talents Awards Season 4
Since its launch five years ago, the Shalina Young Talents Award (SYTA) has become a driving force in promoting and recognizing excellence in pharmacy education and practice in Nigeria. With a total of 3,347 pharmacy scholars and professionals impacted and 57 awards given across seven top universities, SYTA is lauded as the biggest hunt for the best pharmacy brains in the country.
SYTA is one of the many value-added initiatives that we have launched to fulfill our corporate purpose of making access to quality healthcare a right for all Africans. Through SYTA, the company aims to improve pharmacy practice by organizing a national-level competition for final-year pharmacy students across Nigerian universities.
The initiative has garnered endorsements and support from various stakeholders in the Nigerian pharmacy community, including the President and National Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Directors of Pharmaceutical Services, and Deans of the Schools of Pharmacy across the country. The National Secretary of the PSN was quoted as saying, “This is breeding better scholars, better pharmacists,” highlighting the positive impact of SYTA on the development of future pharmacy professionals.
Season 4 of SYTA kicked off on 22 December 2022, and after several grueling rounds of competition, the final round was recently completed on 15 February 2023. The anticipation for the grand finale, where the finalists will compete for the coveted crown of national champion, is high. This event promises to continue to be a showcase of the brightest and most talented pharmacy students in Nigeria and a testament to the effectiveness of SYTA in promoting excellence in pharmacy education and practice.
Ghana Rising Stars of 2023
The 2023 edition of the Shalina Rising Stars Academy program took place on February 10th in Ghana, in partnership with the Internal Medicine Department of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital-Accra. The program’s objective is to create a knowledge-sharing platform, which encourages upcoming doctors to share their in-clinical experiences.
Over 140 doctors participated in the program, showcasing their skills and knowledge through presentations and quizzes, with a panel of expert judges overseeing the proceedings. After the online voting and scores from the judges were collated, the top prize was awarded to the Cardiology Department, followed by the Dermatology and Neurology departments.
The Rising Stars Academy program aims to promote health engagement activities in Africa by supporting and encouraging young doctors in their careers. The event was a great success, demonstrating the high level of expertise and dedication of the participants. We remain committed to creating innovative and dynamic health engagement activities in Africa and are looking forward to the next round of the program.
Uniting for a World Without Cancer: The 2023 World Cancer Day Campaign
World Cancer Day is an international awareness day marked on February 4th each year to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. The theme for World Cancer Day 2023 is “Close the Care Gap”, which focuses on reducing the disparities in access to cancer care and prevention services.
Poverty, unattainable healthcare, and cultural beliefs are major contributors to inequalities in access. Cancer is still seen as a taboo subject in many parts of the world, leading to late diagnosis and inadequate treatment, resulting in poorer outcomes. (1)
Sadly, cancer is the fifth leading cause of death in Africa. (2) Furthermore, it is estimated that more than 1.1 million people in Africa will be dying from cancers annually in 2030 if the current growth trajectory is not checked, with cancers resulting from infectious diseases being at the highest level compared to other regions globally. (3)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified four key areas to reduce the burden of cancer: (4)
- prevention
- early detection
- treatment
- palliative care
Prevention
Prevention includes:
- avoiding tobacco use
- limiting alcohol consumption
- maintaining a healthy weight
- eating a balanced diet
- getting regular physical activity
Early detection
Early detection is paramount in overcoming morbidity rates as many cancers can be cured if they are detected early enough. Regular screening tests for certain types of cancer is therefore imperative. (5)
Treatment
Treatment options vary and may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.
Palliative care
Palliative care is care that is aimed at terminally ill patients and their families. It is important for managing symptoms and improving quality of life, such as pain management, emotional support, and end-of-life care.
In order to actively close the gap in access to cancer care and prevention services, it is essential to increase awareness and education about cancer. This can be done through public health campaigns, which can help to dispel myths and misconceptions about cancer and encourage people to seek early diagnosis and treatment. It is also important to ensure that healthcare systems are accessible and affordable for all, regardless of income or social status.
In addition, healthcare professionals must be trained in cancer diagnosis and treatment, including the latest advances, and must understand cultural and social factors that can impact access to care. Ethical considerations such as informed consent and end-of-life care must also be taken into account. Adequate funding for cancer research must be provided, with results used to inform policy and practice. Research must be ethical, respectful of those affected, culturally appropriate, and consider social and cultural factors that can impact access to care.
The high cancer mortality rates in Africa demand a holistic approach and World Cancer Day 2023 presents an opportunity to raise awareness and beat the odds as we work together to reduce the global impact of cancer.
References:
- https://www.worldcancerday.org/about/2022-2024-world-cancer-day-campaign
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.839835/full
- https://www.afro.who.int/countries/united-republic-of-tanzania/news/who-applauds-new-lancet-report-cancer-sub-saharan-africa
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
- https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/cancer-screening-and-early-detection-of-cancer
- https://www.worldcancerday.org/take-action
Fulfilling philanthropy
Africa has an estimated 52 million orphan population. This crisis has become so prevalent that the continent now makes up 30 percent of the entire orphan population worldwide. With poverty, disease, and hunger rife, humanitarian organisations like UNICEF are working tirelessly to tackle these issues daily.
We, at Shalina Healthcare, are also on the front lines of bringing healthcare to these most vulnerable children and support their upbringing. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing quality healthcare for all Africans, we partner with and sponsor various CSR initiatives every year. Our decade-long partnership with the BUNA Foundation, a 25-year-old initiative, is one such step which involves not only free medical screening for issues like malaria, worm infestations and anaemia, but also funding for basic needs.
Our CEO, Shalina Clifford, visited the 120 orphans of the BUNA Foundation orphanage in the DRC on 9th December 2022. It was an emotional moment for Shalina to watch a little girl of 5/6 years old trying to write Shalina’s name and to experience the joy children felt during the interaction. She cares deeply about these initiatives and the interactions. Her pledge is to continue to help children in precarious environments survive and thrive.
Fighting counterfeits
Counterfeit medicines are fake medicines. They may be contaminated or contain the wrong or no active ingredient. They could have the right active ingredient but at the wrong dose. Counterfeit drugs are illegal and pose a serious health risk across Africa and the world.
The appearance of counterfeit medicines in international commerce was first mentioned as а problem at the WHO Conference of Experts on Rational Drug Use in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1985. Since then, public awareness of the problem of counterfeit drugs has grown.
At Shalina, we are deeply concerned by the threat of counterfeit medicines. We are committed to working with governments and finding ways to fight counterfeit medicines. We do this in a number of ways: In China and India, our source countries, we work with customs officials and surveillance agencies to identify and subsequently raid fake medicine producers and/or distributors. We have introduced high-technology holograms to our most popular brands that we know to be regularly counterfeited. Lastly, we have successfully taken court action in Africa against manufacturers and distributors faking our products.
If you have knowledge of any of our products being counterfeited, or wish to provide us with information, please contact us at info@shalina.com
New Tools in the War against Diabetes
24 million people in Africa have diabetes. With the current growth trajectory, it suggests that 55 million will have diabetes by 2045, with more than half of these people living with the disease undiagnosed.
The countries with the highest prevalence in Africa are South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a collective 416,000 deaths in 2021 alone. With these staggering statistics in mind, we need to rally as healthcare providers in Africa to develop holistic strategies against conditions that not only destroy lives but devastate economies.
As part of our commitment to providing quality healthcare to Africa and overcoming chronic disease, we launched our new Shalgli anti-diabetic range on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, 14 November 2022. The range includes Shalgli 2mg/4mg (Oral Antidiabetic-Glimepiride 2/4mg tab) and Shalgli M 1/500 mg and 2/500 mg (Oral Antidiabetic-Glimepiride + Metformin prolonged release tab). As non-injectables, they are more accessible, safe for all ages and result in better blood sugar control.
The launch event, in conjunction with the Shalina Academy, took place in Lubumbashi and was attended by 70 top Diabetologists, Internists and Physicians, with guest speaker Prof Emmanuel Muyumba from CUL (Clinic University of Lubumbashi) presenting practical case studies, followed by a lively Q&A session.
We see this awareness and knowledge sharing event as one part of a massive puzzle, with the participation of government, educational institutions and businesses in the private sector, like ourselves, who realise that a coordinated, proactive approach is far more beneficial than a reactive one. The first step in this approach is to make effective medication more accessible, affordable and available to all.
Shalina Ghana Awarded Healthcare Provider of the Year 2022
The Ghana Business Awards is a prestigious awards programme that recognises and rewards excellence, achievement and innovation across all business sectors in Ghana. It provides a platform to recognise individuals and companies that play a significant role in the growth and development of their business sector whilst also acknowledging their role in sustainability and CSI.
The 5th Ghana Business Awards event took place in Accra on 28 October, with a total of 200 companies participating, where a distinguished judging panel awarded Shalina Healthcare Ghana as Best Healthcare Provider of the Year.
From humble beginnings in November 2009, we are now one of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in Ghana, with depots across the country in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tamale and Aflao. This allows us to always stay true to our Mission of making affordable and quality medicines available across Africa.
This award would not be possible without our dedicated employees and loyal customer following and we thank them for their unwavering support. This recognition will further strengthen our drive and ambition to be the pre-eminent healthcare provider not only in Ghana, but across the entire African continent.
Shalina Angola opens 17th Shop in Sumbe
On 4th September, Shalina opened its 17th shop in Angola at Sumbe which is the capital of Cuanza Sul province. Thus we are represented in 12 of the 18 provinces in Angola. Sumbe is 330 km south of Luanda and 132 km north of Lobito. This shop will not only serve the needs of 400,000 people living in the town but also the 2.2 million staying in the province. Our customers welcomed the move as they would otherwise travel to Luanda or Lobito to purchase medicines and this would add to the price for the end customers.
Mr Antonio Wenga Franco, Administrator of Sumbe inaugurated the new Shalina shop, in presence of MOH Cuanza Sul Head of Inspection – Dra Cadeth, Inspector Armando, Our Technical Director – Sr Andre Binda and Hospital/ Direccao Doctors – Dr Moniz, Dr Nelson, Dr Afonso, Dr Cardoso, Dr Nelito, Dra Francisca. The opening ceremony was covered on TPA which is a national news channel. The administrator praised Shalina for providing employment in the province and helping reduce cost of medicines for end customers.
All 12 Muncipios of Cuanza Sul – like Gabela, Porto Amboim, Conda, Quibala, Libolo, Mussende etc will be covered by this shop. Large customers and hospitals will be provided free delivery of medicines in the entire province from this Sumbe shop.
Technology with a Personal Touch
Technology is at the forefront of medical innovation, not just in new product development but also systems and software to drive them. To this end, we embarked on a journey with CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software: an incredible tool that supports in executing and guiding our sales and marketing efforts.
As with any business, we are nothing without our customers. In the B2B realm, our customers are the doctors, wholesalers and pharmacists responsible for choosing and selling our 200+ healthcare products. By utilising specialised CRM software, we are able to listen, record and react to specific customer needs, increasing customer satisfaction and engagement through targeted promotion customized to their region.
By fostering a culture of data-driven execution and on-field decision-making, our aim is to elevate every customer interaction and grow our presence and offering in Sub-Saharan Africa, to make our quality products more and more available to those who need them most.
African Health is in their Hands
Children learn by doing, and habits adopted from an early age are practiced throughout life. Something as simple as correct hand techniques will be massively impactful, because handwashing is a critical component in eradicating communicable diseases. And where better to start than in schools?
For over a decade, we have been presenting our school contact programs, with the aim of promoting sound hygiene practices in schools. These fun and interactive mornings include demonstrations of effective handwashing techniques, proper oral hygiene, and handing out samples of Flodent toothpaste and Germol soap to hundreds of eager children.
One of our staff members involved in the project, commented, “It’s heartening to see the kids and we really get motivated by the reaction of the school authorities, who are grateful to us.”
Our vision is to ultimately continue this program throughout Africa, as the effect on the future well-being of these children is humbling and we are inspired to be a part of that future.
Building Our Leaders for Tomorrow!
In pursuit of our Vision to be Sub-Saharan Africa’s Health Champion with brands that people love and trust, we believe that our people are our greatest asset. We are proud of our global Shalina Family and constantly strive to invest in and enable our teams for new business challenges. Last month we launched our first “Shalina Global Leadership Program” at ISB – Hyderabad. This is a 6-month Accelerated Development Program for our leaders, with an aim to propel their leadership skills and thus the organization. We are so excited to see our leaders start this amazing learning journey with Professor Atul Nerkar.
It’s only the beginning … onwards & upwards… !!
Massive Malaria Movement Continues with World Malaria Day
In our ongoing quest to ensure that millions of people in Africa live healthier and happier lives, education about malaria is more critical than ever, especially as we focus our attention on the globally driven World Malaria Day.
Malaria kills millions of people every year. Sadly, Africa, is the worst affected area in the world. We continued our decade-long focus on medical outreach camps: educating, screening, diagnosing, and providing free medication. With World Malaria Day on 25 April, we used this opportunity to ramp up efforts to spread awareness about malaria, in terms of both prevention and treatment.
Our combined efforts to commemorate World Malaria Day were run across all African regions, including a multi-channel live webinar with eminent doctors, in-store promotions, participation in regional health fairs and the sharing of helpful videos on our social media.
In less than a week, we touched the lives of nearly 10,000 people on-the-ground, and with continued innovative efforts and active participation in all communities, we are more determined than ever to Knock out Malaria!
Interschools General Knowledge Knockout
We are steamrolling ahead with our continued campaigns in schools throughout Africa. The latest in our exciting initiatives is the Germol Inter-School Competition, pitting great young minds against each other on General Knowledge, Current Affairs and Personal Hygiene.
Co-hosted with RTNC Channel, the hugely popular TV and radio broadcaster, we brought together 1000 students from the Tshopo region, DRC. In a two-week round-robin challenge, the final showdown on 10 April saw College Pere Mando coming out tops.
By affecting learning and health education in fun and engaging ways, we reach more of the population and cement that learning from a young age. Plans are underway to grow this event to a national level, with hopes to partner again with RTNC and many more thousands of children.
Broda Shaggi Entertains Us At Head Office
We started an exciting journey in 2019, collaborating with Broda Shaggi – a multi-talented entertainer, comedian and producer – to become our brand ambassador for Shal’Artem in Nigeria. Fast forward to present day 2022 where we finally played host to Broda Shaggi, along with our CEO, at our head office in Dubai.
Malaria is a disease that is rife in Africa, with Nigeria being particularly hard hit, and it is a challenge we all take very seriously.
It was an exhilarating and engaging day for all involved. In discussions, our CEO was impressed with Broda Shaggi’s ability to make the serious topic of malaria relevant and accessible to different people from all walks of life.
The groundswell campaign – involving dance challenges – has exploded in the last year, with tens of millions of ordinary Nigerians playing their role to ramp up awareness in the fight against Malaria.
Inaugural Rising Stars Award
The National Grand Finale of the Shalina Rising Stars Award took place on 29 March 2022. It was a full house of senior consultants, dignitaries, and resident doctors whom all added shine to the glamorous occasion.
Visibly excited, Dr. Adebayo Olaolu narrowly came out tops amongst 60 entries in 36 institutions, to become the first-ever Shalina Rising Stars Award winner.
This event is a trailblazer, that has opened partnerships with resident doctors across Nigeria, ensuring a legacy of health learning and health participation throughout the region. The Shalina Rising Stars Award is a value-added initiative to develop and impact healthcare delivery, ensuring quality and affordable healthcare in Africa for decades to come. We are excited for Season 2!
CVD Grand Launch
We recently hosted the finest doctors at the CVD (cardiovascular disease) Grand Launch, including professors and heads of department from the top hospitals in Nigeria and West Africa.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are often called “silent killers” because heart attacks and strokes are a common first warning sign of an underlying disease. High blood pressure is the most frequent and most important risk factor for CVDs. According to the World Health Organization, its prevalence is estimated to be about 20 million in the African Region. These risk factors are dramatically increasing in low-and middle-income African countries, particularly in urban areas. It was therefore a great honor and privilege to unveil both Roshal and Teleshal, further cementing our commitment to fighting cardiovascular disease.
Over one hundred delegates gathered at Lagos Waterfront for an unforgettable night of learning and celebration. Our medical colleagues presented two powerful lectures on Teleshal and Rosuvastatin, and their respective uses in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
The launch culminated in a glorious fireworks display, a metaphorical highlight of our continued dedication to making quality healthcare products affordable and available across Africa.
Ghana Rising Stars of 2023
The 2023 edition of the Shalina Rising Stars Academy program took place on February 10th in Ghana, in partnership with the Internal Medicine Department of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital-Accra. The program’s objective is to create a knowledge-sharing platform, which encourages upcoming doctors to share their in-clinical experiences. Over 140 doctors participated in the program, showcasing their skills and knowledge through presentations and quizzes, with a panel of expert judges overseeing the proceedings. After the online voting and scores from the judges were collated, the top prize was awarded to the Cardiology Department, followed by the Dermatology and Neurology departments.
Shalina Angola opens 17th Shop in Sumbe
On 4th September, Shalina opened its 17th shop in Angola at Sumbe which is the capital of Cuanza Sul province. Thus we are represented in 12 of the 18 provinces in Angola. Sumbe is 330 km south of Luanda and 132 km north of Lobito. This shop will not only serve the needs of 400,000 people living in the town but also the 2.2 million staying in the province. Our customers welcomed the move as they would otherwise travel to Luanda or Lobito to purchase medicines and this would add to the price for the end customers.
All 12 Muncipios of Cuanza Sul – like Gabela, Porto Amboim, Conda, Quibala, Libolo, Mussende etc will be covered by this shop. Large customers and hospitals will be provided free delivery of medicines in the entire province from this Sumbe shop.
Anaemia – A serious condition that responds well to early treatment.
As world blood donor day recently passed on June 14, we take a deep dive into anaemia, a blood condition that like many diseases and conditions can be more easily combated through awareness and early detection.
Anaemia refers to a medical condition in which the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells. It is often a result from lack of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells in the body.
In Sub Saharan Africa, a high percentage of young children and women are particularly at risk of severe anaemia. According to a WHO estimate, anaemia affects more than 68% of pre-school children, 48% of non-pregnant women and 57% of pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa. The complex interactions between anaemia and other factors like malnutrition make it worse.
Tech with a Personal Touch
Technology is at the forefront of medical innovation, not just in new product development but also systems and software to drive them. To this end, we embarked on a journey with CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software: an incredible tool that supports in executing and guiding our sales and marketing efforts.
As with any business, we are nothing without our customers. In the B2B realm, our customers are the doctors, wholesalers and pharmacists responsible for choosing and selling our 200+ healthcare products. By utilising specialised CRM software, we are able to listen, record and react to specific customer needs, increasing customer satisfaction and engagement through targeted promotion customized to their region.
By fostering a culture of data-driven execution and on-field decision-making, our aim is to elevate every customer interaction and grow our presence and offering in Sub-Saharan Africa, to make our quality products more and more available to those who need them most.
African Health is in their Hands
Children learn by doing, and habits adopted from an early age are practiced throughout life. Something as simple as correct hand techniques will be massively impactful, because handwashing is a critical component in eradicating communicable diseases. And where better to start than in schools?
For over a decade, we have been presenting our school contact programs, with the aim of promoting sound hygiene practices in schools. These fun and interactive mornings include demonstrations of effective handwashing techniques, proper oral hygiene, and handing out samples of Flodent toothpaste and Germol soap to hundreds of eager children.
One of our staff members involved in the project, commented, “It’s heartening to see the kids and we really get motivated by the reaction of the school authorities, who are grateful to us.”
Our vision is to ultimately continue this program throughout Africa, as the effect on the future well-being of these children is humbling and we are inspired to be a part of that future.
Massive Malaria Movement Continues with World Malaria Day
Our combined efforts to commemorate World Malaria Day were run across all African regions, including a multi-channel live webinar with eminent doctors, in-store promotions, participation in regional health fairs and the sharing of helpful videos on our social media. In less than a week, we touched the lives of nearly 10,000 people on-the-ground, and with continued innovative efforts and active participation in all communities, we are more determined than ever to Knock out Malaria!
Interschools General Knowledge Knockout
We are steamrolling ahead with our continued campaigns in schools throughout Africa. The latest in our exciting initiatives is the Germol Inter-School Competition, pitting great young minds against each other on General Knowledge, Current Affairs and Personal Hygiene. Co-hosted with RTNC Channel, the hugely popular TV and radio broadcaster, we brought together 1000 students from the Tshopo region, DRC. In a two-week round-robin challenge, the final showdown on 10 April saw College Pere Mando coming out tops. By affecting learning and health education in fun and engaging ways, we reach more of the population and cement that learning from a young age. Plans are underway to grow this event to a national level, with hopes to partner again with RTNC and many more thousands of children.
Brand New Kalemie Depot in the DRC
The province of Tanganuika in the DRC faces a challenge common to many provinces throughout the country. Variety and supply of products targeting common diseases are either unavailable or require patients to travel long distances for treatment. This is where we are focused on solving these accessibility challenges, most recently by opening our new depot in the popular main market area of Kalemie.
In an effort to overcome historical difficulties, the DRC has always been a key focus for us, and the Kalemie depot is another landmark, which brings our number of depots to 21 in the country and 6 in DRC east alone. Not only does this provide high quality, affordable medicine to the entire province of Tanganuika, but it also serves neighboring countries like Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia.
The brand new store was proudly opened on the 9th of February 2022 amid much excitement and in the presence of political authorities, regulatory bodies, and representatives of other leading pharmacies in the region, including Mr Gideon Kakudji Kalama, the city mayor.
We see these new stores as legacy builders, not only fulfilling our core value of expanding access to new customers and regions, but steadily creating local employment and opportunities in all the areas where we operate.
National Grand Finale of the Inaugural Shalina Rising Stars Award
The National Grand Finale of the Shalina Rising Stars Award took place on 29 March 2022. It was a full house of senior consultants, dignitaries, and resident doctors whom all added shine to the glamorous occasion.
Visibly excited, Dr. Adebayo Olaolu narrowly came out tops amongst 60 entries in 36 institutions, to become the first-ever Shalina Rising Stars Award winner.
This event is a trailblazer, that has opened partnerships with resident doctors across Nigeria, ensuring a legacy of health learning and health participation throughout the region. The Shalina Rising Stars Award is a value-added initiative to develop and impact healthcare delivery, ensuring quality and affordable healthcare in Africa for decades to come. We are excited for Season 2!
Broda Shaggi Entertains Us at Head Office
We started an exciting journey in 2019, collaborating with Broda Shaggi – a multi-talented entertainer, comedian and producer – to become our brand ambassador for Shal’Artem in Nigeria. Fast forward to present day 2022 where we finally played host to Broda Shaggi, along with our CEO, at our head office in Dubai.
Malaria is a disease that is rife in Africa, with Nigeria being particularly hard hit, and it is a challenge we all take very seriously.
It was an exhilarating and engaging day for all involved. In discussions, our CEO was impressed with Broda Shaggi’s ability to make the serious topic of malaria relevant and accessible to different people from all walks of life.
The groundswell campaign – involving dance challenges – has exploded in the last year, with tens of millions of ordinary Nigerians playing their role to ramp up awareness in the fight against Malaria.
CVD Grand Launch
We recently hosted the finest doctors at the CVD (cardiovascular disease) Grand Launch, including professors and heads of department from the top hospitals in Nigeria and West Africa. Over one hundred delegates gathered at Lagos Waterfront for an unforgettable night of learning and celebration. Our medical colleagues presented two powerful lectures on Teleshal and Rosuvastatin, and their respective uses in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The launch culminated in a glorious fireworks display, a metaphorical highlight of our continued dedication to making quality healthcare products affordable and available across Africa.
Brand New Kalemie Depot
The province of Tanganuika in the DRC faces a challenge common to many provinces throughout the country. Variety and supply of products targeting common diseases are either unavailable or require patients to travel long distances for treatment. This is where we are focused on solving these accessibility challenges, most recently by opening our new depot in the popular main market area of Kalemie. The brand new store was proudly opened on the 9th of February 2022 amid much excitement and in the presence of political authorities, regulatory bodies, and representatives of other leading pharmacies in the region, including Mr Gideon Kakudji Kalama, the city mayor.
Shalina Healthcare FDI of more than US$16m approved by Angolan government
Shalina Healthcare has signed an agreement with The Technical Unit for Private Investment (UTIP) in Angola. UTIP is the Angolan Government agency that receives, analyses and recommends to the President of The Republic of Angola any foreign direct investment exceeding US$10m.
Shalina plans to invest US$16m to build a new Shalina Distribution Centre. The new centre will house a world class pharmaceutical distribution facility that complies with international GSDP standards (Good Storage and Distribution Practices) and it will be used to distribute Shalina’s range of more than 300 pharmaceuticals products across Angola. The new centre will also contain a large training centre that will be used to conduct continuous medical education for doctors and pharmacists in Angola.
The land acquisition has been completed. Civil construction work will start in October 2017 and is expected to be completed by early 2019.
This investment reflects our long term commitment to Angola and partnering with the Angolan Government’s priority to ensure Quality medicines at Affordable prices across Angola.
Shalina enregistrée en Côte d’Ivoire
Shalina reçoit la certification de la Direction de la Pharmacie, du Médicament et des Laboratoires (DPML) de la Côte d’Ivoire en Afrique de l’Ouest ainsi qu’un nombre important d’enregistrements.
