Hindustan Syringes to launch ‘Kojak-Auto Disable Syrines’ in Zambia

Join hands with Tata Zambia & Zambia Medical Injection Safety Project (MISP)
A unique Public-Private Collaboration to Promote Injection Safety

Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices Limited (HMD)- one of Asia’s largest medical devices manufacturing company, & also one of the largest producers of single use syringes in India has entered into a partnership with Tata Zambia Limited and Zambia Medical Injection Safety Project (MISP) – a project maintained by Chemonics for USAID for preventing the Medical Transmission of HIV – to promote AD Syringes in Zambia to address the issue of unsafe injections and considering implementation of a Safe Injection Policy beyond immunization.

As per the WHO definition, the AD Syringes are the one, which are automatically rendered unusable after having delivered the prescribed dose of vaccine.

Mr Rajiv Nath, Joint Managing Director Hindustan Syringes. & Medical Devices Limited, who specially visited Zambia to launch HMD’s Auto Disable syringes ‘Kojak said, "Hindustan Syringes is proud to enter into this agreement with Tata Zambia & Zambia Medical Injection Safety Project and applauds the Zambian Health Ministry for taking decisive action against the pervasive problem of unsafe injection practices and the improper reuse of injection devices,"

“AD Syringes can play a much greater role in the elimination of injection related infections. Even the WHO has laid the maximum emphasis on using Auto-Disable Syringes for safe injections. These syringes popularly known as AD Syringes can not be re-used at all. The AD Syringe presents the lowest risk of person to person transmission of blood borne pathogens (such as Hepatitis B or HIV) because it can not be reused.” Elaborated Mr Nath while addressing a seminar on Injection Safety
Also present on the occasion Mr. S.M. Arora, Executive Director, Tata Zambia Limited, said “This partnership will further help us in expanding our capabilities in healthcare sector. While unsafe sex remains the leading cause of the spread of this disease, medically transmitted HIV/AIDS remains the one of the leading cause in This part of the world."
“Unsafe injection practices (especially needle and syringe re-use) are commonplace in low-income country health settings, and place both staff and patients at risk of infection with blood-borne viruses (BBVs). It is estimated that up to 160 000 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 4.7 million hepatitis C and 16 million hepatitis B infections each year are attributable to these practices which could be reduced significantly, the need is to adopt safe injection practices. The use of AD Syringes can play a much greater role in the elimination of injection related infections commented Dr. Christopher Mazimba Mmed, Chief of Party, Zambia Medical Injection Safety Project (MISP)

This seminar will be a beneficial to the Ministry of Health in Zambia to address the issue of Unsafe Injections and share HMD’s experiences in other African countries where public private partnerships and policy initiatives have helped. The Health Minister, Govt of Zambia has already given assurance for procurement of AD Syringes by Ministry of Health, Govt of Zambia. To take things further and for timely implementation of the policy, Hindustan Syringes has been advised to start discussion with procurement departments.

Also, at the recent ECSA (East Central and Southern African Health Community) HC Health Ministers conference all the officials representing Zambia acknowledged the need for expediting a National Injection Safety Policy and consider to follow Uganda’s example in restricting the import of Standard Disposable Syringes which are usually misused and reused.

For this collaboration, HMD will provide its product Kojak for immunization and curative purposes to… and ……….. will market these syringes under the brand name……… HMD , which has a manufacturing facility in Haryana, India, has also agreed to provide certain consulting services elating to the marketing and sale of the auto-disable and reuse prevention syringes. HMD & Zambia Medical Injection Safety Project will also work together to train and educate healthcare workers about safe injection practices and the new technology.

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