Lalong raises team to study COVID-19, others

To reverse the negative developments from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has set up a Special Committee for Research on Coronavirus and other Infectious Diseases in the state.

The 13-man team includes one representative each from the state’s Ministry of Health, the Infectious Unit of Medicine Department of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Veterinary Research Institute, Vom.

While unveiling the team at the Government House, Rayfield, Jos, the governor remarked that although the state had had to deal with many infectious diseases in the past, it had not been confronted with anything like COVID-19 in recent history.

He stated: “Our generation is facing perhaps one of its most difficult times. Clearly, COVID-19 has reminded us of the need to be proactive in not only upgrading our medical facilities and improving manpower, but also working ahead to develop preventive and curative capacity for infectious diseases.”

Lalong charged the team, made up of researchers from various tertiary institutions within the state, to work conscientiously by utilising the human and material resources available in Plateau that were capable of treating infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 that is challenging the state and country.

He maintained that the state was endowed with medicinal herbs that could be harnessed towards building capacity to withstand the threat of diseases such as COVID-19 if and when they spring up.

“Therefore, we must not only look inwards to find a solution to the COVID-19 challenge, but also use today’s experience to prepare for the future to avoid panic and desperation,” he said, enjoining the researchers to be diligent in carrying out the special assignment.

The team’s terms of reference include, to search for conventional and/or alternative drugs for the treatment and cure of COVID-19, design treatment protocols for the virus, conduct clinical trials on the candidate drugs, design control mechanism for the spread of the virus and any other design that will curtail the pandemic and other diseases.

“Have it at the back of your minds that in the long run, all efforts should lead us towards establishing a modern infectious diseases hospital in Plateau State,” Lalong said and gave the committee one week to present a proposal to the state.

Members of the team include Prof. Noel Wannang (Pharmacology & Toxicology, UNIJOS) as lead researcher; Prof Jacob Kolawole (Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Chemistry, UNIJOS); Dr. Falang Kakjing (Pharmacology Dept. UNIJOS); Prof James Damen (Medical Lab Science, UNIJOS); Dr. Yusuf Agabi (Virology Unit, Dept. of Microbiology, UNIJOS) and Dr. Richard Kutshik (Dept. of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, UNIJOS).

Others are Dr. Bukar Bukat (Pharmacology), Dr. Ajima Ukpe (Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Chemistry), Dr. Ken Amagon (Pharmacology & Toxicology) and Dr. Longdet Yohanna (Biochemistry).