• #111 (no title)
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus Global Data
  • Home 3
  • Job Dashboard
  • Jobs
  • Log In
  • Post a Job
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Reset Password
  • Sign Up
  • Tenders
  • test
Saturday, June 3, 2023
Independent News
  • Home
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Global Data
  • News
    • Local
    • South Africa
    • Africa
    • World
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Markets
    • Finance
    • Businesses
    • World Economy
  • Technology
  • Travel
    • Travel News
    • Hotels
    • Domestic Tourism
    • Health
    • Home and Garden
    • Motoring
    • Travel Tips
  • Entertainment
    • Local
    • Upcoming Events
    • International
    • Celebrity News
    • What’s On
    • Music
    • Movies
  • Tenders
  • Sports
    • Local Sports
    • Legend Corner
    • International Sports
    • Soccer
    • Rugby
    • Cricket
    • Tennis
    • Boxing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Global Data
  • News
    • Local
    • South Africa
    • Africa
    • World
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Markets
    • Finance
    • Businesses
    • World Economy
  • Technology
  • Travel
    • Travel News
    • Hotels
    • Domestic Tourism
    • Health
    • Home and Garden
    • Motoring
    • Travel Tips
  • Entertainment
    • Local
    • Upcoming Events
    • International
    • Celebrity News
    • What’s On
    • Music
    • Movies
  • Tenders
  • Sports
    • Local Sports
    • Legend Corner
    • International Sports
    • Soccer
    • Rugby
    • Cricket
    • Tennis
    • Boxing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
No Result
View All Result
Independent News
No Result
View All Result
Home Local News Health

Ivermectin may be the ‘wonder drug’ for COVID-19

Nhlanganiso Mkhonta by Nhlanganiso Mkhonta
February 9, 2021
in Health, Local, News
6 min read
0
Ivermectin may be the ‘wonder drug’ for COVID-19
  • Doctor George Coetzee, launched an urgent application, together with two of his patients, for permission to be able to use ivermectin as a treatment.
  • Dr George Coetzee said his patients urgently required the administration of ivermectin in the treatment of Covid-19.

 


Mbabane: While it is critical to find a lasting solution to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ivermectin may well be the “wonder drug” that could be a remedy and save lives.

This is according to Pretoria East (South Africa) doctor George Coetzee, who launched an urgent application, together with two of his patients, for permission to be able to use ivermectin as a treatment.

IOL news in South Africa reported on Monday that a group of doctors, including a Silverton medical practitioner, will meet the government in court on February 2 in a legal bid to have Ivermectin approved for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

Dr George Coetzee, among others, as well as lobby group AfriForum, filed papers in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, against Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

They are asking the court to review and set aside the failure of the regulatory authority to approve the Section 21 applications and to order that Ivermectin is a safe drug for use by humans. This, they say, is subject to it being properly administered in a controlled manner under the management of a treating medical practitioner.

The applicants will also ask for a declaratory order that qualified medical doctors and pharmacists are entitled in terms of the Medicines Act to compound medicine on the prescription of a medical practitioner, which includes Ivermectin.

Dr George Coetzee said his patients urgently required the administration of ivermectin in the treatment of Covid-19.

AfriForum, which is part of the urgent application due to be heard by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria next week, represents a class of persons who have contracted Covid-19 and want to use the drug.

A leading front-line doctor from the US says there is growing evidence for the use of Ivermectin against Covid-19 and that it could be a complementary bridge until the vaccine is widely available.

Pulmonary and critical care specialist Pierre Kory says, “It is certainly another tool in the toolkit and we need everything we can to go after this pandemic”.

Meanwhile, in Eswatini this drug was costing mere less than E20 but it has seen its prices going up to E700 as there have been reports both locally and internationally that the tablet could be the next best thing to treat COVID-19.

The tablet, according to experts, ordinarily costs no more than E20 and is ordinarily used for killing parasites in the body (deworming) and treatment of external parasites like head lice.

Ivermectin is also used for animals such as dogs for heartworm and parasites which stick to the skin.

Speaking to the Times of Eswatini, Director of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula  acknowledge the drug but warned emaSwati against taking this drug as yet, as it has not yet been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and said Eswatini was still doing a study on it at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital.

Magagula said it is a medication mostly for parasites, but it is being repurposed to help people who have COVID-19,” said Dr Magagula.

He, however, said WHO had not as yet approved it because they were still conducting further studies on the drug. He said although not yet approved, there were some seemingly positive results on Ivermectin.

“For now a proposal has been done and the next step is to conduct an observational study which is led by RFM and they are still finalising it,” said Dr Magagula.

“For now a proposal has been done and the next step is to conduct an observational study which is led by RFM and they are still finalising it,” said Dr Magagula.

President of Swaziland Nurses Association Bheki Mamba acknowledged the drug in question, however, he said for now he could not encourage people to use the drug for now. Mamba said it would be better for the nation to wait for approval by WHO before using the drug.

He said the drug needs to be tested first to determine if it can be used in human as it is commonly used for killing parasites in the body (deworming) and treatment of external parasites like head lice.

Mamba said this drug cannot be totally overruled that it will not work because as some drugs were known to be a remedy for other things but further studies may then prove it otherwise to be capable to help in other sicknesses.

When sought for comment, the Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi said the ministry is aware of the use of ivermectin in country for Covid-19 treatment. She said the drug is primarily for treatment of parasitic conditions, not COVID-19.

“However there is anecdotal evidence that it helps in COVID-19 management, and we are aware of studies in many countries.”

She added that the Ministry is working on structured clinical trials of the drug, so we can understand its effects, side effect, and long term impacts. Hence, it will be a prescribed drug, not available over the counter.

Minister Nkosi said as a Ministry they will be on the line of fire for introducing a new drug without following the procedures as advised by WHO. Which is why an observational study to enrol patients and monitor the data is the best way to approach the Ivermectin issue.

“Currently there’s no guidance on its use, no recommended dosage or format for COVID-19 treatment,” said Nkosi.

She added that the COVID-19 case management is busy preparing protocols for such a study/clinical trials, and will announce soon.

“We understand people’s anxiety and impatiens as we all seek effective treatments for COVID-19. However, the Ministry of Health has duty to safeguard public health safety, and must apply due diligence in this case. We are working as fast as we can. An announcement will be made soon.”

Invest more on massive testing, vaccination

Swaziland Nurses Association President Bheki Mamba further advised the local government to invest more on massive testing and massive vaccination.

Mamba said massive testing can go an extra mile in helping the country in the fight against COVID-19 as it meet three (3) main purposes; curb the escalating spread of the virus, commence treatment for those who tested positive as soon as possible more especially those who are asymptomatic because they are the ones who are super spreaders of the virus; and so to slow down the high fatality rate currently faced by the country.

Mamba said the government should invest more on vaccination as that is the only hope present. He said the government should stop relying mostly on the international organizations as that might delay the country from getting the vaccine delivered in the country on time.

He said the government is relying on the COVAX facility so to be able to access the vaccines for free through that collective pool. He said instead the government should have invested more on securing the vaccine and that would have enabled the country to make orders on the vaccine from the manufacturers. He said the vaccines are not readily available but the manufacturers can only start producing vaccines once there is an order for that particular vaccine.

He said apparently, Eswatini has not made any orders but waiting for the COVAX facility to secure the vaccines then through the facility Eswatini can be able to get some jabs of which he said they will not even be enough to vaccinate the whole country but rather the certain priority. He said the first possible group to receive the vaccine when it comes, could be royalty, cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, senior government officials, health workers and maybe the senior citizens.

In response to that the Minister of Health had earlier on said in addition to being part of the COVAX facility, the Kingdom of Eswatini is pursuing direct procurement with preferred vaccine manufacturers.  These discussions are ongoing and are at an advanced stage and the final outcome will be communicated with the nation once finalized.

Share12Tweet8Share3
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

We’ll pursue democracy despite Majaha jinx – PUDEMO

Next Post

AstraZeneca’s vaccine useful despite new variants – WHO

Nhlanganiso Mkhonta

Nhlanganiso Mkhonta

Related Posts

TUCOSWA reported Eswatini for banning Trade unions gatherings
Local News

TUCOSWA reported Eswatini for banning Trade unions gatherings

May 30, 2023
Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest
Community News

Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest

May 29, 2023
His Majesty King Mswati III making his remarks during the launch and sod cutting of selected business projects at Malkerns Square.
Business

King Mswati III Prioritizes Business Protection for Economic Growth and Job Creation in Eswatini

May 27, 2023
Next Post
AstraZeneca’s vaccine useful despite new variants – WHO

AstraZeneca’s vaccine useful despite new variants - WHO

Discussion about this post

ADVERTISEMENT
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest

Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest

May 29, 2023
Ministers Phila Buthelezi and Harries Bulunga pose with stakeholders during the official opening of the 2023 Eswatini Career Expo.

Eswatini Career Expo 2023 promotes skills, entrepreneurship for inclusive economic growth

May 18, 2023
Ncaza’s to give evidence in Sipho Shongwe murder trial

‘Ncaza’ watches his footage killing Victor

February 15, 2022
Fire-fighters living in dilapidated conditions

Fire-fighters living in dilapidated conditions

December 12, 2020
TUCOSWA reported Eswatini for banning Trade unions gatherings

TUCOSWA reported Eswatini for banning Trade unions gatherings

May 30, 2023
Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest

Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest

May 29, 2023
His Majesty King Mswati III making his remarks during the launch and sod cutting of selected business projects at Malkerns Square.

King Mswati III Prioritizes Business Protection for Economic Growth and Job Creation in Eswatini

May 27, 2023
Standard bank leads in financing green energy projects

Standard bank leads in financing green energy projects

May 25, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

PressReleases

Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘pursuing peace’ amid rising global tensions
Press Releases

Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘pursuing peace’ amid rising global tensions

August 10, 2022

Amid global tensions that dominate public attention, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been united with millions of others around the globe for...

Read more
New Scenarios on Global Food Security based on Russia-Ukraine Conflict

New Scenarios on Global Food Security based on Russia-Ukraine Conflict

March 21, 2022
MTN donates US$25 million to the African Union’s COVID-19 vaccination programme

AFRICA BRAND AWARDS: MTN named most helpful private sector brand during the pandemic

May 28, 2021
Close to 1 000 people to benefit in MTN, NAMBoard, SEL CSI projects

NAMBoard’s bid to improve stakeholder engagement programs

May 27, 2021

Stay Connected test

  • 13.6k Fans
  • 5.1k Subscribers

Recent News

TUCOSWA reported Eswatini for banning Trade unions gatherings

TUCOSWA reported Eswatini for banning Trade unions gatherings

May 30, 2023
Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest

Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest

May 29, 2023
His Majesty King Mswati III making his remarks during the launch and sod cutting of selected business projects at Malkerns Square.

King Mswati III Prioritizes Business Protection for Economic Growth and Job Creation in Eswatini

May 27, 2023
Standard bank leads in financing green energy projects

Standard bank leads in financing green energy projects

May 25, 2023


ADVERTISEMENT
Independent News

Independent News Eswatini is a registered private media house in Eswatini established in 2007 and is based in Mbabane. We are the fastest growing weekly news publication in Eswatini that seeks to publish, investigative stories that give insight and play the watchdog media role in government politics, uncovering corruption, giving business insights, technology and economic outlook in Eswatini.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

Recent News

TUCOSWA reported Eswatini for banning Trade unions gatherings

TUCOSWA reported Eswatini for banning Trade unions gatherings

May 30, 2023
Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest

Eswatini failed business effected by Political unrest

May 29, 2023
His Majesty King Mswati III making his remarks during the launch and sod cutting of selected business projects at Malkerns Square.

King Mswati III Prioritizes Business Protection for Economic Growth and Job Creation in Eswatini

May 27, 2023
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2020 Independent News - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Global Data
  • News
    • Local
    • South Africa
    • Africa
    • World
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Markets
    • Finance
    • Businesses
    • World Economy
  • Technology
  • Travel
    • Travel News
    • Hotels
    • Domestic Tourism
    • Health
    • Home and Garden
    • Motoring
    • Travel Tips
  • Entertainment
    • Local
    • Upcoming Events
    • International
    • Celebrity News
    • What’s On
    • Music
    • Movies
  • Tenders
  • Sports
    • Local Sports
    • Legend Corner
    • International Sports
    • Soccer
    • Rugby
    • Cricket
    • Tennis
    • Boxing
    • Cycling
    • Golf

© 2020 Independent News - All Rights Reserved

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms bellow to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In