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Despite WHO Warning, Bauchi Approves Chloroquine For COVID-19 Treatment
Bauchi state government said it has approved the use of anti-malaria drug, Chloroquine, as a medication for the treatment of COVID-19.
Governor of the State, Bala Mohammed, gave the authorisation on Wednesday while giving situation report on COVID-19 in the state, at the Government House, Bauchi,
Mohammed, who was the COVID-19 index case in the state, said he was treated with chloroquine and Zithromax.
Reaffirming his confidence in the efficacy of drug, Muhammed said he should be held liable for any adverse effects and consequences that may arise from approval of such drugs.
“Our medical team is using their own ingenuity to use chloroquine and Zithromax to treat the patients, even though in some places, they said it is against the protocol,” he said.
“As the governor, I’m taking responsibility for that because I don’t want anyone to die.
“I have given you the directive that you must use something that I have used to get well, just as you have used for all other cases that got well.
“Rather than saying that something is harmful, we should not follow what the white people are saying by not taking anything and die.
“We are used to taking chloroquine in Nigeria. We are going to use them. We have taken responsibility and I have taken responsibility.
“Zithromax and chloroquine are not harmful to our body, our physiological system has adapted to it. If you are having a fever you take chloroquine.”
He said it was for the reason of using the said drugs that Bauchi has not recorded any death.
“Nobody is affected with any serious distress in Bauchi, even though now we are going to be tested with the 23 cases.”
Also read: COVID-19: 16 Kano Almajiri Returnees Test Positive In Kaduna
Mohammed’s statement is coming against the backdrop of divergent views and global debate on the efficacy of chloroquine in treating the virulent coronavirus infection.
While the drug has proved effective in some cases in treating COVID-19, the World Health Organisation and other experts have warned against indiscriminate use of the drug, adding that it has not undergone essential clinical trials to be recommended for treating the disease; and may have detrimental side effects.
President Donald Trump of the U.S. was criticised last month for recommending the use of the drug for the treatment of COVID-19 in the U.S.
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