Dr Stella’s COVID-19 treatment claim unproven, says GMD

The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) has reacted to video claims by Dr Stella Immanuel, a General Practitioner (GP) in the U.S. that she has treated over 350 patients of COVID-19 with combination of Hydrochloroquine (HCQ), Zinc and Zithromax, saying it is her own personal, unsubstantiated claim.

In a statement signed by the President of GMD, Prof. Olufemi Babalola in Abuja on Tuesday, the doctors said “there is no scientific evidence to prove the claim.”

The Nigerian-born and trained physician, is trending on social media after delivering a speech on COVID-19 in the U.S. on Monday.

She said at a news conference held by a group of American doctors under the aegis of “America’s Frontline Doctors” in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington DC that the antimalarial drug — hydroxychloroquine, zinc and antibacterial drug — Zithromax, were effective cures for the coronavirus disease.

The doctors held a two-day “White Coat Summit” at the Capitol Hill to address what they call “massive disinformation campaign” surrounding the virus.

Immanuel, who was joined by other frontline doctors, said she had treated no fewer than 350 patients with hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax.

However, the GMD president stated that research on the efficacy of the combination of Hydrochloroquine (HCQ), Zinc and Zithromax to treat COVID-19 had yet to be concluded.

He noted that “we have watched with dismay the viral video of Dr Stella Immanuel, a doctor in the United States of America.

“The video has been shared all over the country and led to many people justifiably asking the question, ‘What do you think, doctor?.

“The video was part of a news conference held in America.”

Babalola stated that the group was founded by Dr Simone Gold, a board-certified physician and attorney, made up of medical doctors who came together to address what the group termed “massive disinformation campaign” about the coronavirus.

The guild president noted that while some studies suggested that it was effective, others felt otherwise.

He added that “it is true that Senegal, where HCQ is routinely used, has one of the lowest COVID-19 case fatality rates in the world at 0.64 per cent compared to 3.4 per cent in the U.S.

“As we speak, a study is underway at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on its efficacy and safety. Subsequently, a meta-analysis of all these studies should be undertaken to pool all the results and come up with analysis which will guide clinicians.

“So, until then, all anecdotal claims such as the one from Dr Stella Immanuel must be taken with a pinch of salt.”

Babalola stated that HCQ may be a cause of serious complications and even death in some people, stressing that other anecdotalclaims such as the herbal mixture from Madagascar had subsequently been proven ineffective.

He stated that the Guild of Medical Directors is a body of owners of private hospitals in Nigeria “and collectively, we are responsible for the management of about 70 per cent of the healthcare needs of Nigerians.

“So, a lot of the burden in explaining the problem as related to the video naturally falls on us. Therefore, we feel it is pertinent to explain or clarify the issues for Nigerians.

“We must reiterate that Coronavirus is real and COVID-19 is an indiscriminate killer.

“We know from personal experience since it has killed many doctors and nurses all over the country, including our very own Prof. Lovett Lawson. The disease is definitely not a joke.”

He, therefore, condemned the politicisation of the pandemic, noting that the whole world was actively looking for an effective treatment and vaccine for the disease.

“So, until then, everyone has a responsibility to remain safe and protect one another through the proven ways.