…As AU consults Madagascar over herbal therapy
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has declared that the government has not ruled out the possibility of using local herbs to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
But he insisted that the Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development must first certify their efficacy.
The minister, who spoke with members of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 briefed members of the House of Representatives, reiterated that it is wrong for hospitals to turn back patients as a result of fear of COVID-19.
He said the government is not ruling out the possibility of using local herbs for the treatment of COVID-19, adding that what the government is saying is that those who claim to have found cure should subject it to test by the Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development.
He said local herbs can be categorized into drugs that can cure the virus or those that can reduce the symptoms, adding that the body must be able to build the required antibodies to neutralize the virus.
Ehanire said: “Before now, it was said that Chloroquine can destroy the virus. But test are still going on in that regard. We have to test the efficacy of local drugs to see of it can kill the virus and also to find out that is in the profess of killing the virus, it can affect the body. So, the Institute will carry out the required test on the local drugs find out how it can work.”
Describing the situation in Kano as sad, Enahire said the government is participating in various research, to find a solution to the pandemic.
He, however, dismissed claims that the mysterious deaths in Kano is caused by COVID-19, adding that the PTF is still waiting for the result of tests carried out in Kano. Until the results are out, he said, the PTF is not in a position to attribute the cause of death Kano State to COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the statement attributed to the PTF team leader in Kano is completely false, adding that the PTF will be able to make a comprehensive statement on the Kano situation once the test results are out.
He also dismissed fears that relaxing the lockdown may lead to increased cases of the pandemic as experienced in other country, stressing that the only way to have reduced figure of COVID-19 is for people to strictly observe all the recommended safety measures.
He said the PTF is in talks with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and some state governments on the possibility of producing protective gear locally, adding that as a result of global demand, protective equipment are scarce in the global market.
The Minister lamented that some Nigerians are running away from isolation centres while others have refused to report themselves for isolation.
The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuba said African Union (AU) ministers of education are looking for alternative ways of educating children in schools so that they don’t miss much as a result of the pandemic.
He said a decision had also been taken to postpone the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination and the National Examination Council examination.
He also said INEC, the Ministry had introduced online learning for school children, but lamented that only 20 per cent of pupils are able to access such e leaning facilities as a result of lack of required facilities.
He said the federal government had asked states to adopt the e-learning programme for their students, adding that 31 states have so far adapted it.
On when schools are expected to reopen, he said that will depend on reports from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama said about 4000 (Nigerians) indicated interest in returning home from different parts of the world, but said the government lacks the capacity to isolate them for the required period of 14 days.
The Minister said the first batch of returnees from the United Arab Emirate (UAE) are expected in the country soon.
He said the returnees had been asked to pay to for their ticket back home and also take care of their upkeep while in isolation.
He added that while the government was looking for a plane to bring back Nigerians in China, it was concentrating attention on areas with large population of Nigeria.
The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekwazu said there were three goals to be achieved from carrying out regular tests which include proximity, scale and future.
He said testing for scale and future explain why the centre has increased the number of testing centres from 5 to 21 with the aim of having one centre in each state of the federation.
He said while there are no confirmed cases in Kogi and Cross Rivers states at the moment, the centre is encouraging states to increase the collection of sample for testing while the role of the agency is to give them the required support.
On whether the NCDC has failed, he said “history will judge us. This is not the time to trade blames. The NCDC has a staff strength of 300 and we have been working with other agencies of government and the states to do what we have been able to do so far.
He said: “This pandemic will not end next week and I know that I will be criticised for this. But we need to work together to achieve results. Neither treatment or testing can get us out of this. We need your voices to get Nigerians to understand what is going on.”
Meanwhile, the African Union says it is discussing with the Republic of Madagascar over the safety and efficacy of a herbal remedy recently announced by the country for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
The AU made this known in a statement published on its website.
The continental organisation said its Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention would review the potency of the herbal remedy once Madagascar provides the necessary information.
The statement reads in part: “The AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Amira ElFadil, convened a meeting with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Madagascar, Eric Randrianantoandro, during which it was agreed that the member state would furnish the African Union with necessary details regarding the herbal remedy.
“Once furnished with the details, the union, through the Africa CDC, will review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 organics.
“This review will be based on global technical and ethical norms to garner the necessary scientific evidence regarding the performance of the tonic.”
Madagascar’s President, Andry Rajoelina, in a teleconference meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government on 29 April 2020 had made a presentation to his peers regarding the herbal remedy.