Malaria pill trialed to prevent COVID-19

A trial to see whether two anti-malarial drugs could prevent COVID-19 has begun in Brighton and Oxford.

Chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine or a placebo will be given to more than 40,000 healthcare workers from Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

All the participants are staff who are in contact with COVID-19 patients.

US President Donald Trump was criticised this week after he said he had been taking hydroxychloroquine, despite warnings it might be unsafe.

The first UK participants in the global trial were enrolled yesterday at the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals and the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

They will be given either hydroxychloroquine or a placebo for three months. At sites in Asia, participants will be given chloroquine or a placebo.

These are the first of a planned 25 UK sites, with results expected by the end of the year.

The trial is open to anyone delivering direct care to coronavirus patients in the UK, as long as they have not been diagnosed with COVID-19.

It will test whether the drugs can prevent healthcare workers exposed to the virus from contracting it.

One of the study’s leaders, Prof Nicholas White at the University of Oxford said: “We really do not know if chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine are beneficial or harmful against COVID-19.”

But, he said, a randomised controlled trial such as this one, where neither the participant nor the researchers know who has been given the drug or a placebo, was the best way to find out.

“A widely available, safe and effective vaccine may be a long way off,” said Prof Martin Llewelyn from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, who is also leading the study.

“If drugs as well-tolerated as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine could reduce the chances of catching COVID-19, this would be incredibly valuable.”

The drugs can reduce fever and inflammation and are used as both a prevention and a treatment for malaria.

Hydroxychloroquine regulates the body’s immune response and is also used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus – an inflammatory disease caused by an overactive immune system.

Lupus charities in the UK and US have raised concerns that demand for the drug associated with coronavirus could threaten the supply for patients who already rely on it. -BBC

President Mahama appoints Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama has in accordance with Section 17 of the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612) as amended, appointed Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu as the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

This was revealed in a statement signed by Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu.

Mrs. Asante-Asiedu is a Chartered Banker and seasoned corporate leader who has served as Group Head, Retail Banking at Access Bank Ghana PLC.

Mrs Asante-Asiedu holds an MBA in Marketing from GIMPA Business School (2021), an MA inJournalism Studies from Cardiff University (2005), and diplomas in Journalism (Ghana Institute of Journalism, 1997) and Politics and Public Affairs Reporting (International Institute of Journalism,Berlin, 2000).

A Chartered Executive Banker (CIB-Ghana, 2024).

She has undertaken Executive Programmes at Said Business School at Oxford University (2023), Wharton School (2015) and Marquette University’s Les Aspin Centre (2003), among others.

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Prez Mahama is committed to open-up Afram Plains once and for all – Kwame Agbodza

The government is set to construct a 3.6km bridge over the River Afram in the Eastern Region, along with approximately 100km of road network.

This initiative, part of President Mahama’s “Big Push” infrastructure plan, aims to boost agricultural productivity, stimulate economic growth, and reduce poverty.

Some of the roads being considered included Mpraeso – Obomeng – Nkawkaw, Abooso – Mpaem, Mpaem – Kwahu – Adawso and Feyiase – Kwahu Tafo. The rest are, Ekye Amanfrom – Takoratwene, Takoratwene – Dome, Takoratwene – Donkorkrom and Donkorkrom – New Kyeiase.

Earlier today, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr.Kwame Agbodza, led a team of engineers to assess the proposed location of the bridge and some critical roads.

Speaking to the media at Donkorkrom after the assessment tour, Mr. Agbodza assured the people that President Mahama is “committed to opening up the Afram Plains once and for all.”

“The bridge when completed will connect Eastern, Ashanti and OTI regions in a very strategic way. It will open up the place for big time agriculture and investment in agro-processing,” he emphasized.

The project is expected enhance economic development, foster regional integration, generate income through agriculture and other sectors.