Coronavirus: Chloroquine to Undergo Clinical Trial – Lagos Govt

Ololade Adeyanju/

The Lagos State government will be conducting clinical trial on the effectiveness of chloroquine in the prevention or management of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said.

Abayomi who disclosed this today while giving updates on the disease noted that that the clinical trial is initiated against the fast spreading news that chloroquine could be effective in preventing and managing coronavirus.

Abayomi however said that the use of chloroquine has not yet been ascertained as an effective treatment of coronavirus disease adding that the state is still watching the global research space to clearly define the efficiency of the drug in the control of the diseases.

He said, “We do not have any hard evidence that chloroquine is effective in preventing or managing COVID-19. We are watching the global research space to clearly define its efficiency.

He noted that chloroquine has significant side effects and should not be used without medical supervision as it may cause more harm than good.

He advised citizens to seek the advice of a physician and await the directive of the Lagos State Ministry of Health on the use of chloroquine and not use it without medical supervision.

Abayomi appealed to citizens not to take advantage of the present situation on COVID-19 to hike or hoard domestic consumables. He however urged members of the public to continue to be their brother’s keeper and join hands with government to curtail the spread of the virus.

“It is condemnable to use this situation to enrich yourselves by hoarding or hiking the prices of domestic consumables for profiteering. We should be responsible citizens in the quest to make Lagos disease free”, he said.