Dr Osagie Ehanire, Nigeria’s Minister of Health has stated that the plant extract, ‘Artemisia annua’ in Madagascar’s Coronavirus remedy, also grows in Nigeria.
Dr Osagie Ehanire made this known while speaking at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday May 11.
Osagie Ehanire said Nigeria’s consignment of the herbal drug which is currently in transit will be subjected to analysis by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) to determine its efficacy and safety before use. He said;
“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.”
We earlier reported that President Buhari has ordered the importation of the acclaimed coronavirus remedy by Madagascar to Nigeria.
This was made known by, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. He said;
“Madagascar has made allocations to various countries, and sent them to Guinea Bissau. We‘re supposed to make arrangements to freight Nigeria’s allocation from Guinea Bissau; it‘ll be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals.
“Mr President has given instructions for the airlifting of Nigeria’s allocation of the Madagascar COVID-19 Syrup; also given clear instructions that it must be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals; there will be no exceptions for this.”