The newly inaugurated Plateau State Research Committee on COVID-19 and other infectious Diseases has formulated three Drugs namely, Cov-Pla 1, Cov-Pla 2 and Cov-Pla 3 against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome,SARS for short.This was disclosed by the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Noel Wannang,while giving an update on the body’s activities on Friday at Government House, Jos.
Prof.Wannang said the result of the cocktails may provide an important breakthrough in the field of herbal medicine, saying the drug Clinical trials on patients of COVID-19 would commence, soon.
He stated that the cocktails, a combination of five plants,among the 13 plants the committee’s findings showed and had antiviral activities against SARS-COV-2 Healthforbes Media reporting.
He said, “Of the 13 plants, ten have been selected based on the Pharmacokinetic parameters of their phytochemicals constituents”.
The Professor of Pharmacology in the University of Jos,said the committee developed a protocol for the management of COVID-19 patients using conventional medicines, saying submission would be made to appropriate authorities as part of guidelines for drug production.
He also said,”These repurposed drugs cover for asymptomatic carriers, mild/moderate disease patients, elderly patients/patients with cardiovascular morbidities, patients presenting with severe disease and patients in shock/critically severe disease”.
He said the committee was negotiating with a company for the potency of the drugs saying, it had also identified preventive strategies for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases which included nutrition and environmental hygiene and sanitation.
Wannang called for the resuscitation of environmental sanitation officers to enforce sanitation exercises in communities across the state while he reassures the people of the state and other Nigerians of the body’s commitment to finding a cure for the Coronavirus.
The 13-man Committee was inaugurated by The Governor of Plateau State,Simon Bako Lalong,as an academic research committee whose membership was emanated from Tertiary Institutions in
the state was inaugurated on May 18.
By Dung Donald Malou