What is your opinion on the Covid-19 pandemic since the virus hit sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)?
As director of a fitness care company in sub-Saharan Africa, and even more so as an African, I am well aware of the peak infections that exist on our continent; and also aware of the limitations and vulnerabilities we have before such a pandemic. That’s why we mobilized $2 million in grants to 18 NGOs in Africa for their pandemic aid efforts. We also provide hydroxychloroquine on demand and recently announce Novartis’ portfolio of pandemic reactions for countries with inherently fragile fitness systems.
Novartis has a program that targets 79 eligible countries in addition to Nigeria; How does this benefit for average and poor Nigerians?
Access to medicines can be a challenge for patients in low- and middle-income countries in the decline and decreases, and the scenario worsened during Covid-19. With our Covid-19 portfolio, we need to help meet the demands for increased physical attention from the pandemic to help mitigate the effect on PFRs and LMICS, such as Nigeria, and help fitness systems in combating the virus.
How do you think drugs achieve goals given the policy of embezzlement and corruption in this region?
Local Novartis groups will work with fitness authorities, NGOs and religious organizations in eligible countries to find suitable distribution channels and that medicines are successful in patients who need them.
Experts talked about over-the-counter remedies to control Covid-19 symptoms, how can this help decrease fatal cases, especially for average Nigerians who can’t afford Covid-19 tests?
Most drugs in our pandemic reaction portfolio are prescription drugs designed to keep patients safe. Our current wisdom is that the fatal cases of Covid-19 are basically similar to complex age and underlying situations such as poorly controlled high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes. Patients deserve to continue taking their medications as prescribed by their treating physician and deserve to adhere to local rules to prevent infections; However, if they are exposed, they deserve to avoid transmitting it and seek the remedy of a health care professional. We recommend that you check Covid-19 so your healthcare professional can decide which medicine is appropriate.
Another drug, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), arrived on the scene thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump. How do you think Nigerians identify with that?
It should be noted that the U.S. FDA recently withdrew its emergency use record for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for use in Covid-19 and several trials in Covid-19 mild and serious have not demonstrated any benefit. However, several trials are still being conducted to investigate its effectiveness in the Covid-19 remedy. Lately there is no evidence to recommend that HCQ deserves to be taken to save your condition, and if symptoms appear, other people deserve to seek the recommendation of a physical care provider.
How much and how much progress has been made and progressed in the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to sub-Saharan Africa?
The Novartis HCQ trial was cancelled due to complicated recruitment and also based on the most recent evidence that emerged to show the lack of advantages of COVID-19. This essay had several sites in South Africa. We are also aware of some trials conducted in sub-Saharan Africa through independent organizations such as DNDi. There are no ongoing Novartis clinical trials in ASS, in particular involving Covid-19; However, we have a number of ongoing clinical trials on malaria and sickle cell anemia in East and West Africa, and our efforts also focus on clinical trials in other pathological spaces such as cardiovascular disease, eye diseases and oncology. Our purpose is patient access and outcomes, and to that end, expanding our clinical trial footprint in ASS allows us to expand studies and progression functions and diversify all the evidence that exists in the evolved regions of the world.
We continue to assist the overall public aptitude reaction to the crisis, adding a commitment to offering millions of doses of our drugs to allow patients to access possible remedies as we advance clinical studies in the fight against COVID-19. We have made significant contributions, more than US$40 million, to more than 60 projects worldwide that help local communities affected by the crisis. These come with donations to strengthen medical infrastructure and provide field assistance in many countries, in addition to Italy, Croatia and Brazil. And we provide help in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where the potential effects of COVID-19 can be simply devastating due to the physical demands already facing the continent.