Iwu, ex-INEC chair, named by FG in team to find Ebola cure

The federal government has constituted a treatment research group that is saddled with the responsibility of finding a vaccine or a drug that will be active against Ebola Virus Disease, minister of health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said on Monday.

“It is my pleasure to inform you that we have set up a treatment research group for Ebola Virus Disease,” Chukwu told journalists in Abuja.

“The terms of reference of this treatment research group will be to carry out research into the treatment of Ebola Virus Disease, to receive and verify claims relating to treatment of the disease including the uncompleted work that was carried out by Professor Maurice Iwu and his team, to collate and analyse related research findings and to advice the government as may be appropriate from time to time.

“The research group will be co-chaired by the two director-generals of our research institutes, namely the director-general of national institute of pharmaceutical research and development, Professor S.K. Gamaliel, and director-general of the Nigerian institute of medical research, Professor Innocent Uja.”

Iwu, erstwhile chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC), also a professor of phamarcognosy, is a member of the research group.

“The group does not have a limit to its work. The members will continue to work until there is result,” the minister said.

Chukwu further dispelled rumours that bitter kola can cure Ebola, as there is no scientific evidence to prove the claim.

“There is no proof of any such fruit known to cure Ebola. There is no scientific evidence that if you eat bitter kola, it will prevent Ebola,” he said.

“However, invitro research showed that some extracts from bitter kola tend to have some activity against the virus. The research was not concluded. I want to restate that taking bitter kola does not stop Ebola Virus Disease.”

The minister made the announcement on the same day he confirmed that one of the doctors who attended to Liberian Patrick Sawyer has himself contracted the disease.