Madagascar cure: “We must conduct safety check before releasing to public” – NIMR DG, Prof Babatunde Salako
The Director General of the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof Babatunde Salako has stressed the need for Nigeria to conduct a safety check on the Madagascar COVID-19 organics when they are delivered to Nigeria.
The Secretary to Government of the Federation who also doubles as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha announced, on Monday, that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the importation of the herbal cure to Nigeria.
Salako, a Professor of Medicine/Nephrology, who said he is in support of the importation of the organics, told Neusroom on Tuesday that before the plant-based cure is released for public consumption, NIMR and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) should be allowed to do some safety check on samples of the product.
The DG said “We must conduct safety check here in Nigeria on that herbal preparation before releasing it for public consumption in Nigeria. This is something that NAFDAC and NIMR can easily do if we have a sample of it when it arrives.”
Reacting to Neusroom’s email seeking enquiry on the position of NIMR on the plant-based cure developed by Ooni of Ife and Prof Maurice Iwu, the NIMR DG said the institute is more concerned about the safety of Nigerians before approving the acclaimed cure.
“People are free to recommend their herbs, what we are concerned about is the safety of the herbs even if it does not cure COVID-19 let it not cause more harm than good,” he said.
“For us as an institute to recommend any of them, they must pass safety and efficacy tests both of which have not been shown by the people behind them.”
