FG Hints On Using Local Herbs To Manage COVID-19

The Federal Government of Nigeria has explained that thorough tests have to be carried out to ascertain the efficacy of local herbs before it can be used in the treatment of COVID-19.

Speaking during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in the Federal Capital Territory a few moments ago, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, noted that the Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development would have to confirm the efficacy of local herbs before it can be used as a remedy on COVID-19 patients.

According to Ehanire, “the local herbs can be classified into those that can either cure COVID-19 or reduce the virus.”

He said, “Before now, it was said that Chloroquine can destroy the virus. But tests are still going on in that regard.

“We have to test the efficacy of local drugs to see if it can kill the virus and also to find out that if in the process of killing the virus, it can affect the body. So, the Institute will carry out the required test on the local drugs to find out how it can work,” Ehanire added.

Meanwhile,  Ehanire, in the recent has revealed that remdesivir has been tried as an anti-retroviral drug, in managing COVID-19 patients. 

Addressing members of the house of representatives on Tuesday, Ehanire said the drug has been administered to patients in Lagos state.  He, however, did not say the outcome of the treatment.