FG sets up research team on Ebola treatment, Maurice Iwu’s bitter kola claim

The Federal Government on Monday set up a six-man Working Group to commence research on the treatment of Ebola virus.

The committee’s terms of reference, according to the Minister of Health, Prof Chukwu, is to conduct research into the treatment of the Ebola virus as well as to receive and verify claims relating to the treatment of the disease, including uncompleted researches carried out in 1999 in the United States by Maurice Iwu and his team.

There had been media reports suggesting that bitter kola could cure Ebola infection based on a research conducted by a Pharmacognosist and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu. Iwu is also a member of the new committee.

Prof. Chukwu, who inaugurated the committee, said there was no known cure for the Ebola infection nationwide at present and that researches were going on across laboratories worldwide on vaccines for the treatment of the virus. He also added that that there was “no scientific evidence’’ that eating bitter kola could cure Ebola infection.

He said: “We have taken note that Iwu’s research has not been concluded. We also feel that in addition to mass enlightenment, we should not neglect the issue of research on Ebola disease,” he said.

The committee would be jointly chaired by Prof. Karniyus Gamanie, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) and Prof. Innocent Ujah, the Director-General of Nigerian Institute for Medical Research.

Other members of the committee are the Project Coordinator for Nigeria Center for Disease Control,  the Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health and the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics.