Nigeria Inaugurates Committee To Find Ebola Cure
A 6-man working group has been inaugurated by the Federal Government with a mandate to carry out research on the deadly Ebola virus and finding a treatment for it.
The committee was inaugurated in Abuja on Monday, August 4, by the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu.
The research committee is co-chaired by Prof. Karniyus Gamanie, Director-General, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID), Abuja and Director-General of Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, Prof Innocent Ujah.
A Pharmacognosist and former Chairman of INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu whose research in 1999 had found evidence of Bitter Kola inhibiting the growth of the Ebola virus in a laboratory, is also a part of the team.
According to Premium Times report, other members of the committee are the Project Coordinator for Nigeria Center for Disease Control, the Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health and the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics.
Acknowledging Iwu's internationally acclaimed research, Chukwu said: "We have taken note that Iwu’s research has not been concluded. We also feel that in addition to mass enlightenment, we should not neglect the issue of research on Ebola disease," while adding that researches were going on across laboratories worldwide on vaccines for the treatment of the virus.
He said the committee should receive and verify claims relating to the treatment of the disease, including uncompleted researches carried out in 1999 in the U.S by Iwu and his team and also collate and analyse related research findings worldwide, adding that they were free to collaborate with similar centres around the world in the discharge of its mandates and could recruit technical persons to assist it in its work.
Related: Experimental Serum Likely Saved Two Americans With Ebola Virus
He said they are also expected to advice government on appropriate measures to curtail the spread of the virus.
The deadly disease was first detected in Nigeria after a Liberian man Mr. Patrick Sawyer died at a hospital in Lagos after he was tested to be infected with the virus.
Related: EBOLA: US Ready To Send Health Experts To West Africa
Ebola virus has reportedly killed about 900 people in four West African countries since February 2014. The virus spreads by contact with infected blood and bodily fluids. There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.
Source: Legit.ng
