The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehani, has said that advised doctors and other Nigerians against treating COVID-19 patients at home.
Dr Ehani gave the advice during a Presidential Task Force [PTF] briefing on COVID-19 on Monday. He also added that home remedies do not cure coronavirus rather it may boost immunity.
He said,
“On home remedy, there are theories and postulations about certain things that boost your immune response. It is said that if you take ginger, vitamin C or whatever, it will boost your immunity.
“Response to viral diseases as a whole is connected to your immune response because eventually, it is your antibody that will tackle the virus. People now speculate that if you take something that boosts your immunity, it will help to tackle the virus. That is hypothetical. It is a theory that is propounded. If it helps, fine, but nobody will tell you that that is the cure.”
Adding,
“The case management team has concluded training of healthcare workers in Abuja. They will be attending to patients in these isolation and treatment centres.
“I enjoin states to adhere to the standards advised by the accreditation team and also again advise my professional colleagues that it is very risky to be treating coronavirus patients in private homes or in their hospital establishments without training and accreditation.”
According to the minister, the country has taken delivery of equipment donated by the European Union.
“For donors, who still want to support, we are open. The European Union has promised to give us a donation which is appreciated.
“The United Nations promised us pieces of equipment and they arrived this morning (Monday). The three tranches include 50 ventilators which we are going to apply to our ICU (intensive care unit) centres,” said Ehanire.
