The Republic of Madagascar has offered its herbal drug COVID Organics (COV) to Nigeria and other African countries.
The drug is for prevention and cure of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Nigeria’s consignment has been sent to Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja.
For ease of transportation, African countries were divided into zones leading to the freighting of Nigeria’s consignments to Equatorial Guinea.
Recall that Nigeria’s Coronavirus positive tally moved to 4,399 on Sunday with 248 new cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Lagos recorded 81 cases, followed by Jigawa State 35 and Borno State 26 cases to top the chart. Kano State recorded 26 cases, followed by Bauchi State with 20 cases.
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Meanwhile, there is pressure on the Federal Government by different medical and scientific organizations to allow the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to subject the drug to further analysis.
While Nigerians are calling for a clinical trial of COVID Organics before being used in the country.
But the Federal Government was yet to take a position as of weekend because the AU has mandated its Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID Organics.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week insisted that the efficacy of the drug was unproven.
While some countries like Tanzania, Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau, Chad and Equatorial Guinea have subscribed to the drugs. Also, while South Africa has offered to conduct a scientific analysis of the drug, Senegal said it will subject it to a clinical trial.
The Federal Government has assured to make the best decision on the drug in the overall interest of Nigerians.
The Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha on April 28 had said the nation was ready to give Madagascar’s herbal drink a trial. He said: “I want to assure you that whatever is happening in the world, we are mindful of it and we are keeping a tab.
“I was reading of the experiences in Madagascar– of why everybody is drinking some solutions that have been prepared. This morning I was sharing with my wife, and I told her that probably I would request that Mr President allow us to import a planeload for a trial.
“We are all navigating an unchartered cause. Nobody has ever been on this road. So, every attempt to find a solution that would bring succour to our people, be rest assured that this task force is very responsible and we would do everything to ensure that we get what will benefit our people, what will help them in the processes that we find ourselves today.”
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