COVID-19: First Bank Distributes Unproven 'Miracle' Drug Ivermectin To Staff (Exclusive)

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not recommended the use of Ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment or shield, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has distributed the 'miracle' drug to its staff, AllNews can exclusively report.

AllNews scooped from a staff of the commercial bank (a Lagos branch) that the lender asked them to take as series of doses twice a week, with a full glass of water (8 ounces) on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before meal.

But a medical practitioner who is one of the healthcare workers at the frontline of Nigeria’s struggle with COVID-19 told AllNews on Friday that this medication is originally used to treat certain parasitic roundworm infections.

"Ivermectin is actually not a COVID-19 drug - yet," the doctor who does not want to be named said.

"It is an anti-parasitic drug used to cure parasitic infections, which helps to improve quality of life.

"In people with weakened immune systems, curing roundworm infections can reduce the risk of developing a severe or life-threatening infection."

We put our findings to First Bank, but the financial institution did not respond to our inquiry.

While there are vaccines now for the dreaded COVID-19 (at least three), WHO has repeatedly warned that there is no cure yet for COVID-19.

WHO to scrutinise use of Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment after 'promising' results in trials

WHO recently confirmed that an independent panel of experts will investigate Ivermectin as a possible COVID-19 treatment.

“Due to new results coming in from various trials, within the following days a systematic review will be conducted for an independent panel of experts to consider the full evidence available.

“We are closely following the research on Ivermectin, which has shown promising results in some trials.

“All changes to WHO-recommended treatments follow this expedited but comprehensive review, and are shared with the public at the earliest possible time,” the organisation said not long ago.

'Nigeria at the cutting edge of scientific research into the COVID-19 treatment'

In Nigeria, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has welcomed efforts by a team of Nigerian professors and scientists investigating the effectiveness of, and roles that Ivermectin drug can play in the treatment of the Coronavirus disease.

The team, which is composed of Nigerian scholars at home and abroad, has also submitted their report on the usefulness of the drug to the WHO.

Nigeria currently has a total of 116,655 COVID-19 cases, with 21,544 presently active, 93,626 discharged, and 1,485 deaths.

This is out of 1,225,179 samples collected so far.

Speaking earlier this month (January) while being briefed on the report by a team of scientists led by Femi Babalola, the Principal investigator, and Chris Bode, the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Osinbajo expressed excitement that Nigeria and Nigerians “are at the cutting edge of scientific research into the COVID-19 treatment.”

According to him, “we have an opportunity here and I am so fascinated to hear this drug has been used in the treatment of River Blindness in this country.”

While commending the efforts of the team, Osinbajo added that with the report, Nigeria is at an advantage both in knowledge and availability of the drug, especially since Ivermectin has been found useful not only in the treatment of COVID-19 but also as a prophylactic medication.

He disclosed that the Federal Government will explore further ways to support the research for the benefit of Nigerians and humanity generally, while also advancing the effective funding of scientific research in the country.

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Members of the group named IVERCOVID Research Group are the Principal Investigator, Femi Babalola, an Ophthalmologist and surgeon; the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Chris Bode; the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council at LUTH, Lanre Adeyemo; a US-based Clinical Pharmacologist, Adesuyi Ajayi; two project virologists: S.A Omilabu and Olumuyiwa Salu; and also the Project Coordinator, Felix Alakaloko.

Both Babalola and the CMD, LUTH commended the Buhari Presidency for encouraging the research and thanked the Vice President for his personal role and support.