Local scientists eye clinical trial of Ivermectin

With local cases of the pandemic shooting up and healthcare facilities reaching their limits, pressure is mounting on Botswana to establish its own study on the drug’s potential to treat the virus. As Botswana and other African countries remain at the back of the global queue for COVID-19 vaccines, attention is shifting to the search for treatment options for the virus.

Dr Gaonyadiwe Mokone, a founding member of the Botswana COVID-19 Ivermectin Intervention Group (BCIIG) told Mmegi that discussions are ongoing with the Health Ministry towards supporting a local clinical trial to establish whether Ivermectin can be used in treating COVID-19. “The elephant in the room is funding because clinical trials are very expensive,” he said yesterday.