The Federal Government has today, inaugurated a Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 Herbal Remedies and Natural Compounds in a bid to find a cure for the Coronavirus pandemic.
During its inauguration, held at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, said there was a need for the country to look inward to develop a home-grown remedy.
He said the assembled team would be responsible for verifying claims of cures and herbal remedies for COVID-19 being developed by scientists, researchers and traditional medical practitioners.
He said, “I have no doubt that the discovery of a cure for COVID-19 in Nigeria would enhance the standing of our dear nation in the comity of nations.
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“It will also accord Nigerian scientists the deserved recognition and help regenerate foreign exchange earnings for the nation as well as enable a knowledge economy that will facilitate economic growth and sustainable national development.”
He said Nigeria with 172 other countries had been making frantic efforts for enhanced access to COVID-19 vaccines by participating in COVAX, a global initiative to provide worldwide access to safe and effective vaccines.
The minister stated that COVAX currently has the world’s largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio, including nine candidate vaccines, seven of which were currently in clinical trials.
