Nigeria takes delivery of seven tonnes of Hydroxychloroquine from India to treat Covid-19 patients

NIGERIA'S federal government has taken delivery of a consignment of Hydroxychloroquine from India as part of ongoing plans to find a cure for the debilitating coronavirus pandemic ravaging the country.

On the whole, Nigeria has been spared the worst of the virus, suffering only 38,948 cases of which there have been 833 fatalities. However, with numbers still rising, the Nigerian government is keen to address the matter and is as such happy to try out several drugs that have been prescribed as remedies.

In May, Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac) said it will continue with clinical trials of the two drugs Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine in its search for a cure to Covid-19 despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) giving up on both drugs. Both Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine have been widely used in trials but the WHO has given up on both of them, saying it does not see them as the answer.

In March, US President Donald Trump said Hydroxychloroquine could be a game changer in the global fight against coronavirus and his comments immediately led to a scramble for the drug, which is widely produced in India. At the height of the pandemic in April joined the list of nations placing restrictions on the export of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals by banning all exports of the anti-malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine.

Following the global outcry over its ban on exports, India later relaxed its restrictions and today, several tonnes of Hydroxychloroquine were delivered to Nigeria. Boss Mustapha, the chairman of Nigeria's Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19, expressed his gratitude to India for the donation.

Mr Mustapha said: “The PTF wishes to thank friendly nations and corporate organisations for their continuing support through the donation of medicines and equipment. In this regard, we thank India for the donation of seven tonnes of Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of patients, the resources will be judiciously utilised.”