The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Wednesday said he has authorised the use of chloroquine as a medication for the treatment of COVID-19.

Mr Mohammed, who was the COVID-19 index case in the state, said he was treated with “chloroquine and Zithromax.”

The governor, who disclosed this while providing an update on COVID-19 in the state, at the Government House, Bauchi, said he would take responsibility for any consequences of approving such drugs.

“Our medical team is using their own ingenuity to use chloroquine and Zithromax to treat the patients, even though in some places, they said it is against the protocol,” he said.

“As the governor, I’m taking responsibility for that because I don’t want anyone to die.

Addressing the health officials directly, Mr Mohammed said, “I have given you the directive that you must use something that I have used to get well, just as you have used for all other cases that got well.

“Rather than saying that something is harmful, we should not follow what the white people are saying by not taking anything and die.

“We are used to taking chloroquine in Nigeria. We are going to use them. We have taken responsibility and I have taken responsibility.

“Zithromax and chloroquine are not harmful to our body, our physiological system has adapted to it. If you are having a fever you take chloroquine.”

He said it was for the reason of using the said drugs that Bauchi has not recorded any death.

“Nobody is affected with any serious distress in Bauchi, even though now we are going to be tested with the 23 cases.”

Mr Mohammed’s statement on chloroquine adds to the global debate on the appropriateness of recommending the drug.

While the drug has been found to be effective in some cases in treating COVID-19, the World Health Organisation and other experts have warned that it has not undergone essential clinical trials to be recommended for treating the disease; and may have detrimental side effects.

President Donald Trump of the U.S. was criticised last month for recommending the use of the drug for the treatment of COVID-19 in the U.S.

“We are used to taking chloroquine in Nigeria. We are going to use them. We have taken responsibility and I have taken responsibility.
“Zithromax and chloroquine are not harmful to our body, our physiological system has adapted to it. If you arehaving a fever you take chloroquine.”

Ezewuzie01:
Prof. Maurice Iwu has come up with a more reliable remedy it would do our country better if we patronize him instead of chloroquine that the confused President of USA is touting about.

Kobojunkie:


Very irresponsible statements for a state governor to make.

Ezewuzie01:
Prof. Maurice Iwu has come up with a more reliable remedy it would do our country better if we patronize him instead of chloroquine that the confused President of USA is touting about.

BEEFIE:
is the govnor a doctor...why are people bent on knowing musa more than musa mother

Kobojunkie:


Very irresponsible statements for a state governor to make.

ikabasa1:
the lockdown is really affecting your brain. When America president made that statement, you all rush to get chloroquine.

Kobojunkie:


Very irresponsible statements for a state governor to make.

Saao:
tell us what your responsible governor is doing. They use same drugs on him and he's OK, so why not try it on others afterall, those drugs are not strange to us. Every leader must attempt to do something instead of sit down doing nothing.

SalamRushdie:

What is irresponsible about saying the truth ? chloroquine is 100 percent effective against the virus and the governor is a living testimony so are are thousands of other people yet because CNN has not authorized you to use your head you think it's Irresponsible for him to say it