A Nigerian has recorded significant progress towards finding a cure for the much-dreaded coronavirus or Covid 19.
According to a release by Abdulganiyu Aminu, Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, a Nigerian
professor of Pharmacognosy, Prof. Maurice Iwu has claimed discovery of a
drug with a potential treatment agent for coronavirus infections.
He said Professor Iwu disclosed this while
briefing the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu in
his office on Monday in Abuja.
The Minister of State for Health, Sen. Dr.
Adeleke Mamora and the Minister of State for Science and Technology,
Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi were also at the briefing.
He said according to Professor Iwu, his
institute, the Bio-Resources Institute of Nigeria (BION) had concluded
arrangements with the Anti-viral programme of the Us National Institute
of Health to subject compounds from Nigerian plants against the Wuhan
coronavirus or Covid 19.
Prof. Iwu further said that his research
group had identified and patented a possible treatment for coronavirus
as far back as 2015, adding the world must remain ahead of these
emergent infections through research.
In his words, “our approach is the use of a
network of eminent scientists and leading laboratories to target
particular diseases, especially neglected tropical, emergent diseases
and orphan diseases such as Ebola virus, Dengue Fever etc.”
In his response, Dr. Onu commended Prof.
Iwu for his discovery and said that it was a welcome development, adding
no single Nigerian life should be lost to the Covid 19. He also praised
the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health since the outbreak of the
first case of the Covid 19 in Nigeria.
He added that Nigerians are now more assured and encouraged with the fast recovery of the index patient.
Dr. Onu further told Prof. Iwu that the
ministry had set up a committee under the aegis of the Nigerian Academy
of Sciences to look into cases of vaccine or cure for the dreaded Covid
19 and Lassa fever.
He, therefore, advised Prof. Iwu to make available his research findings to the committee for verification.
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu further said that for
Nigeria to gain its pride of place among the comity of nations, she must
contribute to finding solutions to challenges affecting the global
community.
Dr. Onu, said the country cannot afford to
lag behind, especially as the most populous black nation on earth.
Nigeria, he added, must contribute to finding a cure to global diseases.
He appealed to the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, to help the nation in
its fight against prevailing and not-yet discovered diseases.
Dr. Onu assured the Federal Ministry of
Health of continuous support and cooperation of his Ministry in helping
to combat further emergence of communicable diseases.
He reiterated the commitment of the Ministry to reward scientist, who develop vaccines or cure for CoVID-19 and Lassa fever.
The Minister of State for Health, Sen.
Adeleke Mamora thanked Prof. Iwu for coming up with his discovery,
adding that Nigeria can only develop through the efforts of her
citizens. He added that the best time for war is now and Nigeria must be
well prepared.
He emphasised the need for Nigeria to
prepare for endemic diseases in times of normalcy. He urged Nigerians to
guard against indiscriminate use of drugs to fight prevalent diseases.
Dr. Mamora said from the grapevine some
Nigerians have started stockpiling Chloroquine Phosphate as an antidote
to Covid 19 and warned against indiscriminate use of drugs to fight
diseases without proper prescription.
He said his ministry will continue to collaborate with that of Science and Technology.
0 comments:
Post a Comment