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COVID-19: Nigeria Govt Tackles WHO, Says It Can’t Dictate To Country
The federal government on Wednesday said the World Health Organisation cannot foist its guidelines on how to fight the virulent COVID-19 scourge on Nigeria.
WHO had, on Monday, said it would put on hold the solidarity trial which featured the use of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 patients.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, had said the global health body decided to halt the trial due to safety concerns.
The following day, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said Nigeria was not deterred by WHO directive, adding that it would continue the trial which it said had been effective in treating COVID-19 patients, especially those at the mild stage of infection.
But speaking at the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Olorunnimbe Mamora, minister of state for health, said WHO only provides guidelines which countries can adapt according to their peculiarities and prevailing circumstances.
Also read: COVID-19: Nigeria To Continue Chloroquine Trial — Undeterred By WHO Stance
He said WHO guidelines are not a blanket decision for country to follow hook, line and sinker.
He added that countries are expected to modify and tweak this guidelines according to the realities in their country.
“We are still working on drugs. Don’t forget that even the hydroxychloroquine is still being worked on as we speak. It’s important for us to make it clear that the WHO does not dictate to countries as to what to do,” Mamora said.
“They only provide guidance and guidelines, not dictate, because the reality is that each country is expected to look at those realities on ground and leave room for innovation, flexibility and adaptation as dictated by the realities on ground in each country.
“So we’re still looking at the issues of drugs; we are still looking at the issues of vaccine as well, also in the areas of research.”
He said the federal government was working based on science, evidence and research in containing the spread of the virus.
“One of the researches that has come out of our own situation is establishing that what we have here is the same strain in Wuhan,” he said.
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