Despite Ban, Many Nigerians Are Still Using Chloroquine - WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that in spite of the ban it placed on the use of chloroquine, artesunate, sulphadoxine pyremethamine and other monotherapies, the drugs continue to thrive in Nigeria.

Dr David Okello, former WHO Country representative stated this while speaking to newsmen in Lagos. According to him, in spite of campaigns embarked upon by the WHO discouraging monotherapies, many Nigerians are still using the individual drugs in treating malaria.

“WHO has recommended the ban of the production, importation and prescription of artemisinin monotherapies. It has also launched a global plan to contain or control the spread of arteminsinin-resistant malaria. There is no place for the use of Chloroquine and sulphadoxine pyremethamino in the treatment of malaria in Nigeria. Artesunate alone cannot treat malaria. Sulphadoxine pyremethamine are no longer recommended in the treatment of malaria,” Okello said.

It would be recalled that in 2011, the global health body discouraged the use of the drugs in treating malaria as a measure in preventing drug resistance. However, HealthNewsNG can authoritatively report that many pharmacies in Nigeria are still selling the outlawed drugs.