Nigeria has joined other countries to participate in the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s “solidarity trial treatment” for COVID-19.

This was disclosed on Tuesday, May 12, by the minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire at the briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja.

According to him, the federal government is cooperating with the WHO on treatment regimen solidarity trial, The Nation reports.

Covid-19: WHO to begin drug trial in Lagos, Ogun, FCT, others
Nigeria will be participating in WHO drug trial. Credit: Twitter
Source: Facebook

Five states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital territory are enrolled in the trial. They include Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kano.

The minister, however, did not state when the trial will begin and the modalities for it.According to WHO: “the Solidarity Trial will compare four treatment options against standard of care, to assess their relative effectiveness against COVID-19”. By enrolling patients in multiple countries, the Solidarity Trial aims to rapidly discover whether any of the dr*gs slow disease progression or improve survival. Other dr*gs can be added based on emerging evidence.

“As of April 21 2020, over 100 countries are working together to find effective therapeutics as soon as possible, via the trial," it added.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the federal government on Monday, May 11, said the plant used for the herbal drug produced by Madagascar for the cure of coronavirus grows in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, in Abuja.His words: “We are going to get samples of the herb of the botanical product for analyses and also probably use that opportunity to speak with the health authorities there particularly the scientific community on how they use it.

“We will also give it to the research community here with us to examine and see what they can do with it.

“We understand that it is something called Artemisia Annua, which also grows here. But we would like to get that sample and compare it with the strain here to know if they are exactly identical or similar and then see what properties it has.

“It will be subjected to analysis to find out what works in there and how it works and is used in getting a cure. All countries around the world are interested in finding a cure and we are not different; So we’ll look at all options and promises that have been made.“Before we give any of these medicines to our people we will make sure they are actually safe and that they work.”