The Federal Government said yesterday that claims by some local researchers that they have developed a cure for COVID-19 have fallen flat in the face of scientific investigations.

According to government, of the 19 claims subjected to validation protocols by the Federal Ministry of Health, only three passed preliminary stages and worthy of further investigations.


The Presidential Task Force, PTF, on COVID-19 disclosed this yesterday at its daily berifeing, adding that it had been deliberating on the need to re-open schools and gave conditions for re-opening of schools which would be fumigated in collaboration with sub-national entities.

The PTF, which is promising that safety measures would be put in place before such a decision was taken, also restated its earlier decision to redefine the country’s case management system in the light of new research outcomes indicating that the virus was no longer infectious after 10 days of administering treatments to patients. It expressed support to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on its decision to work with relevant stakeholders to pilot the introduction of electronic voting in 2021.


Drug claims

Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, noted that the subject of research had been central to the mandate, thinking and planning of the PTF, but said of the numerous local drug claims evaluated, only three passed the preliminary stages.

He said: “As a measure of the importance attached to research and development of local capacity for finding a cure to the COVID-19, the Federal Ministry of Health held a virtual meeting with a number of researchers and scientists with claims to cure for COVID-19 and of the numerous claimants, three were found to deserve further investigation and have been forwarded to the relevant authorities for appropriate review.


“Similarly, efforts are being made by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to subject a good number of locally manufactured COVID-19 equipment to verification and subsequent certification.” He appreciated the lower rate of transmission and case fatalities in Africa but added that countries in the region needed to progressively increase their capacity to detect cases, not just to know the extent of the outbreak, but also to identify and initiate care for people most at risk.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/ptf-approves-3-potential-coronavirus-herbal-cures-for-validation/