The American Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, on Monday said his country was not yet in a position to make the Ebola Disease experimental drug, Zmapp, available to Nigeria.
Mr. Entwistle said during a visit to the Nigerian Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu that the drug was not yet available in sufficient quantity to go round all the countries requesting it.
The ambassador did not say when the drug would be available for Africa’s most populous country.
He only advised the Nigerian health ministry to focus on isolation, screening and prevention.
Mr. Entwistle commended the efforts of the Federal Government in curbing the spread of the Ebola virus in the country.
He said the aim of the visit was to discuss further on the anti-Ebola cooperation between the U.S government and the Nigerian government.
The ambassador also praised the work done at the emergency operation centre and the isolation centre, saying he understood that they were working hard.
“You have all seen the headlines over the weekend, this is an issue that we have to keep working hard on, it may be with us for a while but there are some encouraging signs.
“Your government is doing a good job on contact tracing; I noticed when I flew back here on Thursday night into the country, before I left the plane I filed in the questionnaire.
“I was very impressed because I had to put in my seat number which is a very good idea, so that if you have to trace the guy who was seating next to me you will know where I am.
“I have been very impressed by this thing so I encourage the government of Nigeria to keep at it, which I know they will”, he said.
Mr.Entwistle said the two countries had a broad partnership to keep collaborating, cooperating and working hard to make the world a better place.
He said he could not think of a more important example of cooperation than the Ebola cooperation.
Speaking during the visit, the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the Nigerian Government was withholding its approval for the Anti-Ebola drug Nano-Silver produced by a Nigerian because it did not meet the requirements of the National Health Research Ethics Code. He said that the Nano Silver drug, which was made available to the
Emergency Operations Centre in Lagos on August 14, did not meet basic research requirements.
“The experimental drug, Nano Silver did not meet the requirements of the National Health Research Ethics Code.
“Accordingly, the approval was withheld by the National Health Research Ethics Committee”, Mr. Chukwu said.
He said the ambassador’s visit was an opportunity to share ideas and information on Ebola virus.
“He is the spokesperson for the United States’ government here in Nigeria, and so he came to me as the Chief Public Health Officer of the country to exchange views with me”, Mr. Chukwu said.
The minister said Mr. Entwistle also visited to know if there was any new development that recently cropped up on the Ebola virus.
(NAN)
Prof. Maurice iwu on channels this morning said ‘if the country Nigeria were to be a single individual, i would say such an individual is suffering from a severe case of low self esteem disorder’. The only reason the nanosilver experimental drug is not good to be used is because it was produced by a Nigerian. Forget every other ‘scientific’ explanations by whatever authority that has classified the drug inappropriate to be used. The last I remember, there is no particular cure for Ebola and its been approved that experimental drugs be applied. Zmmap that was produced in America though not verified was allowed even though the priest that took it in Spain died. I guess the message that’s been passed to us and that some of our dumb leaders are also agreeing with is that nothing good should come or can come or should be seen to have come from a black nation especially Nigeria. And that the west has a monopoly of doing good. We are aware (according to what Prof. Maurice Iwu on channels tv this morning) that the reason america has not delivered the zmmap drug to nigeria is because the company producing it has not produced enough to go round all countries that requested for it. What that simply tells us is that all other drugs especially if produced by a black man must not be administered so that there will be enough market for zmmap when its finally ready. Also, I believe if nanosilver had been produced by America, it would have been ok to use. From the article above American ambassador has not come to do anything with the our health minister because as it is now, there is no collaboration and there cannot be on this Ebola matter. At best, he has come having heard the information about how good we have managed without them to spy so they could see how to puncture our already working apparatus to their own advantage. We already know that with America, nothing goes for nothing.
U av said it all Muyi, dey (USA) don’t want any gud thing coming out of us.
He would have appologies to nigerians for the disease there citizen brought delibreatly to infect nigerians
Wooow,God bless you muyi.that’s just it bro,shekinah.i hope we can stand ground one day making use of our(our leaders) God given intellect.