Covid-19: WHO to begin drug trial in Lagos, Ogun, FCT, and three other states
The minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire disclosed on May 12, that Nigeria has joined other countries to participate in the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s “solidarity trial treatment” for COVID-19 at the briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja.
The states includes include Lagos, Ogun, FCT, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Kano.
However, the date of commencement of the trials and modalities for the trial was not stated by the minister.
According to WHO: “the Solidarity Trial will compare four treatment options against the standard of care, to assess their relative effectiveness against COVID-19”. By enrolling patients in multiple countries, the Solidarity Trial aims to rapidly discover whether any of the drugs slow disease progression or improve survival. Other drugs can be added based on emerging evidence. “As of April 21, 2020, over 100 countries are working together to find effective therapeutics as soon as possible, via the trial,”
According to the minister of health, “We are going to get samples of the herb of the botanical product for analyses and also probably use that opportunity to speak with the health authorities there particularly the scientific community on how they use it.
“We will also give it to the research community here with us to examine and see what they can do with it. “We understand that it is something called Artemisia Annua, which also grows here. But we would like to get that sample and compare it with the strain here to know if they are exactly identical or similar and then see what properties it has. “It will be subjected to analysis to find out what works in there and how it works and is used in getting a cure. All countries around the world are interested in finding a cure and we are not different; So we’ll look at all options and promises that have been made
“Before we give any of these medicines to our people we will make sure they are actually safe and that they work.”