Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire Reveals Drug Used In Treating Coronavirus Patients In Nigeria

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire has revealed that the drug used in treating coronavirus patients in Nigeria is a broad-spectrum anti-retroviral medication called ‘Remdesivir’.

Ehanire, who made this revelation during a press briefing on Tuesday, said treatment with Remdesivir is given by injection into a vein.

“We have been using that drug (Remdesivir). We have tried that in Lagos too.

“So, we have tried the anti-retroviral drug to see what effect it has,” he said.

The drug, according to the minister, was originally developed as a potential treatment for Ebola and has been adopted by the government as of the options for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Remdesivir is being tested as a specific treatment for coronavirus, and the US had approved emergency use of the drug for treatment of those with severe COVID-19 symptoms.

KanyiDaily had reported that a Nigerian doctor, Babafemi Taiwo is leading a major study on the antiviral drug ‘Remdesivir’ in the United States.

Dr Taiwo was interviewed by CNN and he explained the promising result of the drug in treating COVID-19 patients.