It is a known fact that most medicines and vaccines discoveries are usually subjected to FDA, WHO & other national Food & Drugs Approval Agencies, such as Nigeria’s NAFDAC, for scientific testing and approval. The COVID-19 pandemic vaccines and medications being of international dimension require WHO approval for International acceptance and usage. However, there are claims and counterclaims about the discoveries of drugs from local herbs in countries such as Madagascar & Senegal that are alleged to be efficacious against COVID-19.
Considering the ravaging and devastating effects of the virus on the highly densely populated African cities, the continent can not afford the luxury of international politics of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs gradualism and red tapism. True it is important to follow existing protocols, but this is a serious case of emergency, that calls for thinking out side of the box,
It is no longer a choice between delayed protocol and approval. It is simply now a choice between life and death.
The AU with over a billion African citizens, should as a matter of urgency create its own continental research and approval body, known for example as, the Africa Health Organization (AHO), to test and grant approvals when and where necessary to some of our home grown alternative medicine. Afterall, a Nigerian, Dr Babafemi Taiwo, is leading the research for the anti covid-19 drug, Remdesivir at the Northwestern University College of Medicine. Chicago USA. The drug was only last week approved as an effective remedy for the recovery of patients that are suffering from the viral attack.
It is high time, African countries come to terms and understand some of the vagaries of international medical politics played by the big drug companies and vested interests with a view to circumventing some of these challenges for the benefit of the African people.
Note: Iroche is a seasoned Finance Executive with over thirty years’ experience in Banking, Power and Public Service. He has served on various boards such as the International Glass Industries Limited and GTBank Sierra Leone.
