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General News of Monday, 21 June 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Monarch urges Fed Govt to explore local cure for coronavirus

The photo used to illustrate the story The photo used to illustrate the story

As governments continue to struggle to quell the discomfort caused by the novel coronavirus, Ntisong Ibibio III, Imperial Majesty, Essien Ekidem has urged the Federal Government to resort to traditional medicine as an alternative cure for the COVID-19 virus.

Ekidem said the government needs to invest more in research as the country cannot afford the fortune it spends on importing coronavirus vaccines.

He gave the advice at a briefing in his palace at the weekend as part of activities to herald the forthcoming African Leadership Icon Award scheduled for August this year in Nigeria, The Nations said.

The royal father who noted that it was not too late for the country to dive into medicinal research stressed that a cure could be drawn from traditional herbal medicines.

According to him, the importation of costly foreign medicine was adding huge problem to the already devastating economy that was trying to spring back.

Ekidem further called on the Federal Government, state governments, multinational oil companies, governmental and non-governmental organisations to sponsor and support herbal medicine manufacturers for serious research and production of anti-COVID-19 medicines for the benefit of those in the rural areas, reports The Nations.

“Indeed, sometime last year, we experienced a global pandemic disease called COVID-19. This was a bitter experience. Many lost their loved ones in schools, churches, mosques, businesses, private and public places, even some public hospital were locked down across the world.

“To channel this course a right to some extent, I call on the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom State, multinational oil companies, NGOs, other states as well as public-spirited individuals to sponsor and support herbal medicine manufacturers in the state for more research and production of anti-COVID-19 now that the conventional (vaccines) medicine is scarce in supply to our rural dwellers.

“It is clear that the third phase of COVID-19 is in the fast lane to hit the world. It’s better to have alternative medicine for the prevention and eradication of pandemic waiting for the high cost of foreign vaccines.”

The monarch, who congratulated African leaders on the roles they played to curb first and second waves of the pandemic hinted that Icon Merit Award would be given to them across the 54 African countries through Global Peace Foundation International in Uyo.

Revealing that the theme of the event would be “Let’s Celebrate Our Living Icons,” he also disclosed that some of the African leaders billed for the award include President Mohammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Boubacar (Mali), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Paul Biya (Cameroon), Ali Bongo (Gabon), Nana Akwufo Addo (Ghana), and George Weah (Liberia), among others.