FG Can’t Handle Increasing Number of COVID-19 – Minister

Minister of State for Health Made this Known – FG Can’t Handle High Rise in COVID-19 Cases

The Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora has disclosed a statement over the High rise in coronavirus cases in Nigeria.

Stock Photo of – Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora with the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari – Source Cred: Ships&Ports

This comes as a result of fewer bed spaces, less drug research, and the suspension of the evacuation of Nigerians from around the world.

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The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health has shortlisted for further investigations, three Nigerian drugs, which have the potential to cure COVID-19 or treats its symptoms.

This was disclosed by Boss Mustapha, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Wednesday at the PTF press conference in Abuja, where the ministry of health warned that Nigeria’s health system could not cope with increasing COVID-19 cases.

SGF, Boss Mustapha – CORONAVIRUS CASE

But Mustapha said three shortlisted drugs would be subjected to further investigations by relevant health agencies.

According to PUNCH on Tuesday, The Federal Ministry of Health was screening 19 local firms for the production of herbal drugs that could possibly treat or cure COVID-19.

The Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, who confirmed the screening to The PUNCH, said the companies had been asked to submit samples of their drugs.

At the PTF press briefing on Wednesday, Mustapha disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health had held a virtual meeting with some researchers and scientists who had made claims about COVID-19 cure and shortlisted three for further research.

He stated, “As a measure of the importance attached to research and development of local capacity for finding a cure to the COVID-19, the Federal Ministry of Health held a virtual meeting with a number of researchers and scientists with claims to cure for COVID 19 and out of the numerous claimants, three were found to deserve further investigation and have been forwarded to the relevant authorities for appropriate review.

“Similarly, efforts are being made by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to subject some locally manufactured COVID-19 equipment to verification and subsequent certification.”

The task force also backed the decision of the World Health Organisation to suspend clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of the novel coronavirus.

The PTF Chairman, Mustapha, therefore cautioned the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and other relevant agencies to ensure that all claims to treatment by scientists and researchers were subjected to scientific certification protocols.

The WHO had on Monday suspended the hydroxychloroquine trials because of the high mortalities among patients the drug was administered on.

On Tuesday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency would go ahead with the trial on the grounds that it had been effective in the treatment of COVID- 19 patients, especially those at the mild stage of the virus.

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