EXIM BANK (GH) RESOURCE TOBINCO TO PRODUCE DRUGS TO COMBAT COVID-19.

Exim bank Ghana is partnering with Entrance Pharmaceuticals and Research Centre, a subsidiary of the Tobinco Group of Companies to produce Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin locally to curb the rising novel COVID-19 cases in the country. The bank pledged its readiness to upgrade a $5 million dollar facility for the company to propel the task to produce these two drugs locally. This is a follow up to sudden revelations that coronavirus infected persons administered with hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin are said to recover quickly but the drugs are not manufactured locally on a large scale. However, the amount involves in purchasing these drugs has sky rocketed on the international market.

Paying a working visit by members of the Exim Bank Credit Subcommittee to the Entrance Pharmaceuticals and Research Centre, the Board Chairman of the bank, Mr. Kwadwo Boateng Genfi said the bank is poised to augment government’s effort to fight the pandemic and in so doing, “Ghana Exim Bank was highly impressed with Tobinco’s utilization of a previous grant extended to the group and therefore was ready to advance a new $5 million dollar edifice to help tackle the pandemic in the country”, he stated. ● World Health Organization (WHO) Assertion Chloroquine and a related derivative Hydroxychloroquine have gained global attention in the treatment of COVID-19, although the WHO says there is no definitive evidence that they have cured COVID-19 patients completely. The notion of deploying Hydroxychloroquine to facilitate the process of treating COVID-19 amid the pandemic has generated arguments among politicians and scientists these few weeks in the media space. In spite of all these uproars, opinions are that these drugs are effective in treating the novel coronavirus and tests are yet to be conducted thoroughly to affirm this claim. But before the world discovers the appropriate vaccine for this cruel viral ailment. Let us all keep on observing the safety protocols. Wear nose mask anytime we step out. Let’s stop the spread and panic. If you can, stay at home. Credit: Graphiconline.