COVID-19: NAFDAC Ignores WHO, to Conduct Own Clinical Trials on Hydroxychloroquine
*As FG considers two shifts for schools
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (MAFDAC) is to carry out its own clinical trials on Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 and will not rely on the position of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WHO had announced temporary suspension of the clinical trials on Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 on the claims of reports of mortality rate on the drug.
But the Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora said the federal government will rely on NAFDAC and other health agencies to carry out their own clinical trials despite what WHO said.
Mamora who appeared on ARISE News TV Channel said government will be waiting for NAFDAC’s findings on the clinical trials of the drug.
He said, “For us in Nigeria and Africa, Chloroquine is not really new to us. For ages, we have been using the drug even though not for the treatment of COVID-19 which is a new disease, but at least, while we were using it for the treatment of malaria, it was well tolerated.
“We have heard of issues of the drug being toxic to patients with heart diseases and the likes, but notwithstanding, it is not out of place to still carry out our own study based on realities of our own situation.”
Meanwhile, the federal government is considering introducing two shifts for secondary schools as part of the condition for reopening them.
The schools will run morning and afternoon sessions.
Similarly, the government is also discussing with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on modalities for reopening of worship places.
This was as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 389 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total to 8,733.
In the statement by NCDC, 2,501 have been discharged while 254 were reported dead.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (MAFDAC) is to carry out its own clinical trials on Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 and will not rely on the position of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WHO had announced temporary suspension of the clinical trials on Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 on the claims of reports of mortality rate on the drug.
But the Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora said the federal government will rely on NAFDAC and other health agencies to carry out their own clinical trials despite what WHO said.
Mamora who appeared on ARISE News TV Channel said government will be waiting for NAFDAC’s findings on the clinical trials of the drug.
He said, “For us in Nigeria and Africa, Chloroquine is not really new to us. For ages, we have been using the drug even though not for the treatment of COVID-19 which is a new disease, but at least, while we were using it for the treatment of malaria, it was well tolerated.
“We have heard of issues of the drug being toxic to patients with heart diseases and the likes, but notwithstanding, it is not out of place to still carry out our own study based on realities of our own situation.”
Meanwhile, the federal government is considering introducing two shifts for secondary schools as part of the condition for reopening them.
The schools will run morning and afternoon sessions.
Similarly, the government is also discussing with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on modalities for reopening of worship places.
This was as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 389 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total to 8,733.
In the statement by NCDC, 2,501 have been discharged while 254 were reported dead.
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