The Bauchi State Government has authorised the use of Chloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 patients in the state.
Chloroquine was authorized by Governor Bala Mohammed on Wednesday. According to the Governor, having been the index case of COVID-19 in the state he was treated with Chloroquine and Zithromax.
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While speaking to the press at the government House, Governor Bala Mohammed said he would take personal responsibility for any consequence that may arise from approving the malaria drug.
“Our medical team is using their own ingenuity to use chloroquine and Zithromax to treat the patients, even though in some places, they said it is against the protocol.
“As the governor, I’m taking responsibility for that because I don’t want anyone to die.
He thereafter addressed the state health officials directly;
“I have given you the directive that you must use something that I have used to get well, just as you have used for all other cases that got well.
“Rather than saying that something is harmful, we should not follow what the white people are saying by not taking anything and die.
“We are used to taking chloroquine in Nigeria. We are going to use them. We have taken responsibility and I have taken responsibility.
“Zithromax and chloroquine are not harmful to our body, our physiological system has adapted to it. If you are having a fever you take chloroquine.”
Nobody is affected with any serious distress in Bauchi, even though now we are going to be tested with the 23 cases.”
Chloroquine has been at the centre of a global controversy with US President Donald Trump promoting the drug as a possible cure for the virus while doctors and professionals disgareed.
Diverse clinical trials are being conducted for the drug but some have already been halted because doctors say they exacerbated Covid-19 symptoms in patients.