COVID-19: Nigeria To Continue Chloroquine Trial — Undeterred By WHO Stance

Director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeleye on Tuesday said the agency will continue chloroquine clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment.

Adeyeye, disclosed this when she featured on a programme on TVC.

The development is coming against the backdrop of the suspension of the drug test by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

On Monday, the WHO announced a “temporary pause” in its  trial on the use of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

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.

Faulting the health organisation position, the NAFDAC DG averred that there was data to prove that chloroquine wad effective in treating COVID-19 patients, especially at the “mild stage” of the infection.

She said Nigeria would continue its clinical trials which may take three to four months.

“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.

“If medical doctors, research scientists, pharmacists, herbal experts work together, we should conclude the clinical trial in three to four months. The narrative might change afterwards but for now, we believe in hydroxychloroquine.”

During the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing On May 18, 2020, Fiona Braka, officer in charge of WHO in Nigeria, had announced that the solidarity trial had started in Nigeria.

Three days later, Akin Abayomi, commissioner for health in Lagos, also said the state had concluded plans to roll out hydroxychloroquine trials for possible prevention and treatment of COVID-19.