NAFDAC gets Madagascar’s drug as COVID-19 herbal remedy faces tests
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) has received Madagascar’s COVID-19 treatment drug for clinical assessment.
Recall the Madagascar COVID-19 herbal remedy was imported into Nigeria and brought in by Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on May 16th.
Nigeria’s health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire disclosed this during the daily press briefing of PTF in Abuja, stating that the samples were found to be in two varieties – one for prevention, the other for treatment.
The other government agencies that also got samples of “COVID Organics” are: National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).
The Minister said: “Global efforts to find a cure for COVID-19, in which Nigeria is participating in the WHO solidarity trial, will be reviewed by our panel of experts, as WHO suspended the trial, due to alarm raised by a medical journal, on the safety of some drugs being tried, like hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine and their combinations.
“Proposals for trial of local remedies for the disease have been sent to the relevant research and testing agencies for scientific evaluation.
“Samples of the Madagascar herbs have been given to three agencies of the Ministry of Health – NAFDAC, NIPRD and NIMR. We have written to the Ministry of Science and Technology to expect samples because they also have agencies that conduct research on phyto-medicines.
“These are normal processes for new preparations to be approved for use in Nigeria, and include toxicological and efficacy tests and clinical trials. Government will investigate all genuine efforts to find home grown solutions to the pandemic.”
