The Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ahmed Gana has warned residents against the use of herbal medicine and self-medication against Coronavirus, but instead adhere strictly to all precautionary measures.
Gana, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Gombe, said that using herbal or traditional medicine would not treat or cure coronavirus.
He said as a medical doctor and professional in the health sector, “we don’t speculate and we don’t advise the use of things that are un-orthodox or not evidence-based.
“Medicine is evidence-based and absolutely there is no relationship between lemon and COVID-19 as far as the signs of the virus are concerned.
“Whatever must be recommended as a cure for any treatment or prevention must have the evidence, meaning it must have been clinically tested and manufactured through a scientifically established norm.
He stressed that though traditional medicines “are useful to the body but the knowledge around traditional practice in Nigeria is very poor as they are not practiced side-by-side with orthodox.
“Herbal solutions can do more harm to them because these are concoctions from trees and plants that people are using which have not been prepared, detoxified, and we don’t know their doses.
“Some of these herbs have effect on strategic organs of the body like the liver and the kidney that the body requires to function.
“And if you take the wrong dose for any reason, the toxicity can result to acute hepatic shutdown and if you have acute liver failure you die,’’ he said.
The commissioner said by taking lemon, one would get vitamin C to boost body immunity, provide the body with additional fluid for circulation, which is essential for the body to function but not a cure.
“There is no vaccination for COVID-19 as of now; there is no treatment apart from symptomatic management.
“If you take plenty of lemon, you will have plenty of Vitamin C and nothing more as far as we are concerned in medicine.
The commissioner advised the public to be on red alert to report any suspected cases of coronavirus to the rapid response team that has been activated in all local government areas of the state for action.
However, a survey by NAN, showed that some traders of lemon and other medicinal plants in Gombe’s main market were making brisk businesses.
Usman Haliru, a lemon seller, said he witnessed increased sales since the spread of the Coronavirus into Nigeria, adding we are now witnessing better sales and patronage.
“We now sell two small balls of lemon for N100 while one big ball now sells for between N150 and N200 as against N50 and between N70 and N100 respectively.
“Whether lemon or any other plants cure coronavirus is what I cannot tell you because I am a businessman; this is what I do for a living but I know lemon is good for the body,” he said.
Mr. Hassan Mustapha, a buyer, told NAN he had come to the market to buy lemon in view of the several messages being circulated on social media that lemon and hot water kills the virus.
“I have read a lot in this regard and since there is no recommended cure for now, I am buying lemon, which I will be taking with warm water when the town is totally shutdown.
“Since we have no way to cure this dreaded virus, I will continue to use my herbs as I have been using them for years while also adhering to government protective measures,’’ he said.
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