The Lagos State Government has advised the public against indiscriminate use of chloroquine to prevent coronavirus disease, COVID-19 saying the drug has significant side effects and should not be used without medical supervision as it may cause more harm than good.
During the daily update on the COVID-19, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi said, “We do not have any hard evidence that chloroquine is effective in preventing or managing COVID19. We are watching the global research space to clearly define its efficiency in COVID-19.”
The Commissioner stressed that the use of chloroquine drug, has not yet not been ascertained as an effective treatment for the coronavirus disease adding that the State is still watching the global research space to clearly define the efficiency of the drug in the control of the diseases.
Abayomi said the State Government will be conducting clinical trial on the effectiveness of chloroquine in the prevention or management of COVID-19 infection.
While appealing to citizens not to take advantage of the present situation on COVID-19 to hike or hoard domestic consumables to enrich themselves, he urged the public not to panic but strictly abide by the instructions of the government.
