Nigerian Govt Resumes COVID-19 Drug Trial; Seeks Volunteers

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has disclosed that the Nigerian government has approved the resumption of COVID-19 drug trial.

The minister disclosed this on Tuesday at the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) briefing on COVID-19, in Abuja.

Despite the directive from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that declared hydroxychloroquine ineffective against COVID-19, Nigeria insisted that it would continue the trial with the drug.

In his remarks, Ehanire explained why the government approved continuation of the trial.

ABOKIFX GIVES YOU EXCHANGE RATE TODAY

The minister recalled that he had announced that Nigeria will “participate in COVID-19 drug trial, which the WHO was leading but partly suspended”.

Ehanire said after consultation with top Nigerian scientists of the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee, he was “advised that Nigeria has something to add to the body of knowledge around these trials”.

“I have therefore approved the continuation of the trial, as recommended, under strong precautionary conditions to be built into it,” he said.

He said the ministry had the first briefing with the Ministerial Advisory Panel of Experts on Monday and received a series of very useful advisories that will be discussed and shared with government organs.

GET FINANCIAL NEWS AND UPDATES ON ABOKI FX

Subsequently, the Nigerian government has announced plans to engage community volunteers for COVID-19. It revealed its plans to embark on house-to-house sensitisation on the dangers and spread of coronavirus.

Ehanire disclosed that the ministry was working with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA) on the modalities. He explained that the targets were “high burden” Local Government Areas, as 20 LGAs contribute nearly 60 percent of the COVID-19 positive cases.

He said the COVID-19 burden not evenly distributed within the country and that Kano and Lagos bear the highest burden.

READ ALSO, 18 Year Old Raped, Murdered in Ibadan

The minister noted that a team from the ministry is in Lagos on an appraisal visit, during which a situation analysis will be conducted.

The team will also visit the contiguous Ogun State on the same mission.

“The visits are in continuation of similar useful initiatives in the past to Kano, Katsina Sokoto, Jigawa, Gombe, and Borno, to share experience and ideas, align strategy and support each other,” Ehanire said.

VISIT ABOKIFX FOR LIVE RATES OF NAIRA TO DOLLAR