The Federal Government through the Ministry of Health has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to carry out necessary procedures for the assessment of a plant -based cough mixture to treat COVID- 19 patients.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mashi Abdullahi, issued the directive in a memo with REF no. TCAM / 077/I/ 65, addressed to the Director – General of NAFDAC , Prof . Mojisola Adeyeye.
It read “As you are aware, the COVID- 19 pandemic is currently ravaging the world with no definite treatment or vaccine. This has necessitated countries to look for solutions from within and Nigeria is no exception. It is worthy to note that Nigeria is blessed with medicinal plants which could be exploited. It is heartwarming to note that the Department of TCAM has taken the pains to research into scientific materials to come up with a formulation intended for the management of cough in COVID- 19 and other cough -related infections. Interestingly, all the ingredients that make up the formulations are medicinal plants that are widely used as food materials and medicines. They include Allium sativa (garlic); Allium cepa (onions ); Zingiber officinale (ginger): Piper guineense (West African Black Pepper ); and Adansonia digitata (baobab fruit). The innovation here is the composition of the formulation. These medicinal plants have documented scientific evidence of long use for the management of cough and other respiratory infections , with medicinal properties of mucoIytic, antitussive, expectorant, soothing , demulcent, anti – inflammatory and antiviral effects .”