President Buhari receives COVID-19 herbal drugs from Madagascar

President Muhammadu Buhari has received the COVID-19 herbal drugs from Madagascar, Onyxnews Nigeria understands.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, made the announcement in a series of tweets on Saturday.

Garba said samples of the native remedy were brought by the President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Embalo.

Garba however noted that Nigeria President restated that all necessary processes will be put in place before allowing traditional or any new medicines to be administered on Nigerians.

Garba also quoted Buhari saying: “We have our institutions, systems and processes in the country. Any such formulations should be sent to them for verification. I will not put it to use without the endorsement of our institutions.”

President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday at the State House, Abuja, received the Madagascan native formulation against the #Covid-19 pandemic, and reiterated that he will listen to science before allowing traditional or any new medicines to be administered on Nigerians.

— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) May 16, 2020

This is coming few days after the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it had met with 70 traditional medicine specialists in an offer to research for a cure for the COVID-19.

The health organisation said an agreement was reached with the herbal medicine experts on clinical trials of their remedies.

“70 traditional medicine experts from countries across #Africa held a virtual meeting with @WHO on the role of traditional medicine in the #COVID19 response.

“They unanimously agreed that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the Region, without exception,” the WHO had tweeted.

The meeting also came a day after Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina batted away criticism for promoting a homegrown “remedy” for the COVID-19, saying that the west has a disregard attitude towards traditional African medicine.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Friday, made known that five states in the country will also be participating in the ongoing solidarity trial for a cure for the COVID-19, sponsored by the World Health Organisation.

He discouraged survivors of the pandemic not to disclose details of treatment so as to prevent self-medication.