LAGOS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government has warned against taking antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as treatment against COVID-19 cases, saying the drug had not been certified for such use.
The warning followed a large purchase of hydroxychloroquine by some citizens, said Boss Mustapha, chairman of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in a statement reaching Xinhua on Friday.
He said through the surveillance system set up by the PTF, it has received reports that Nigerians have been purchasing Hydroxychloroquine in large quantities to treat COVID-19.
"We wish to reiterate that this drug has not being certified for use in treating COVID-19 in Nigeria by the relevant health and pharmaceutical authorities," he said, adding self-medication of any kind is fraught with the danger of increasing risks of avoidable casualties.
The PTF chairman advised people who are sick to seek medical advice. "If you are confirmed positive, kindly self-isolate in an approved facility. the COVID-19 is highly infectious and dangerous," he said.
Late Thursday, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 339 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, bringing the total to 7,016 and the death toll to 211.
The health agency said most of the fatalities recorded from COVID-19 were cases with other underlying illnesses. Enditem
