Nigeria is forging ahead with its hydrochloroquine trials for the treatment of covid-19.
This is inspite of the announcement by the World Health Organisation suspending the drug test.
On Monday, Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, cited the study published by The Lancet, which had examined the effects of the use of hydroxychloroquine alone or when used with a macrolide, and reported a higher mortality rate.
But the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC) DG said there is data to prove that chloroquine is effective in treating COVID-19 patients, particularly at the “mild stage” of the virus.
She said Nigeria would continue its clinical trials which may take three to four months.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it will continue hydroxychloroquine clinical trials in Nigeria despite the suspension of the same by the World Health Organisation for the treatment of COVID-19.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known on Tuesday during a programme on Television Continental.
Adeyeye said there are proven records that hydroxychloroquine had been effective in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, especially those at the “mild stage” of the virus.
“There is data to prove that hydroxychloroquine worked for many COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we would continue our own clinical trials in Nigeria. Hydroxychloroquine has been proved to work at a mild stage. So the potency depends on the severity of the disease in the patient’s body,” she said.
The NAFDAC DG, who said Lagos State had already begun hydroxychloroquine clinical trials, noted that depending on the speed of work, the clinical trials should conclude in three to four months.
