The Federal Government on Monday in Abuja inaugurated a six-man Working Group to carry out research on the treatment of Ebola virus. The Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, inaugurated the committee co-chaired by Prof. Karniyus Gamanie, the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development in Abuja, and the Director-General of Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, Prof Innocent Ujah.
Chukwu said there was no known cure for the Ebola infection nationwide at present, adding that there was “no scientific evidence” that eating bitter kola could cure the Ebola infection.
The minister was referring to media reports that suggested bitter kola could cure Ebola infection based on a research conducted in 1989 by a Pharmacognosist and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu.
The minister, who acknowledged the internationally acclaimed research of Iwu, also named him as one of the members of the committee.
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.”
Chukwu said researches were going on across laboratories worldwide on vaccines for the treatment of the virus.
He gave the terms of reference of the committee to include conducting research into the treatment of the Ebola virus.
He said the committee should receive and verify claims relating to the treatment of the disease, including uncompleted researches carried out in 1989 in the US by Iwu and his team.
The team, he said, should collate and analyse related research findings worldwide, adding that the committee was free to collaborate with similar centres around the world in the discharge of its mandates.
He also said the committee was also expected to advice government on appropriate measures to curtail the spread of the virus.
Other members of the committee are the Project Coordinator for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health and the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry of Health.
The minister said the committee could recruit technical persons to assist it in its work.
In his response, Gamanie thanked the minister for the privilege to serve on the committee and pledged that the committee would do its best to discharge its duties.
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