The Nigerian Minister of Health, few days ago, mentioned that a Nigerian scientist would donate an experimental drug for Ebola. This product, Nano-silver, is produced by a foreign health body headed by Dr. (Mrs.) Rima E. Laibow (who wrote an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan about its possible efficacy for Ebola treatment).
The Nigerian health minister indicated interest in the use of the drug; however, the United State FDA and other bodies are not in support of its use for Ebola treatment due to some safety and efficacy reasons. A Nigerian health commissioner supports the latter.
I am not very much interested in political decisions and economic debates. I write this, (due to numerous calls and messages I received), for people seeking clarifications. I present an unbiased, scientific and medical view (to the best of my knowledge).
Nano-silver (tiny particles of silver– the silver that you know!) kills bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other microorganisms, as well as, make viruses inactive. It disinfects. It sanitizes. It stops the growth and development of disease-causing microorganisms. It is, therefore, used in varied products: clothing, electronics, utensils, cosmetics, herbicides, fertilizer, food products, and many more.
Now, the problem is: Nano-silver has not yet received full approval from International medical and scientific regulatory bodies because only few solid researches have been done on it and there are already clear evidences of its harmful effects on plants, animals, the environment; and toxicity to experimental animals when given in large doses over a long period of time. It entered the brains of rats, accumulated, and kill the brain cells! When used as food supplements in humans, it could cause serious irreversible skin and allergic reactions. Nano-silver is a natural health product and not a pharmaceutical drug, per se. Its use in medical settings is “alternative medicine” — unconventional, unorthodox, and largely unauthorized. Several years ago, some developed countries banned its use.
On the other hand, from a foreign research laboratory, encouraging claims were made: when cell cultures containing viruses (like Ebola virus) were exposed to silver nano-particles in significant amount, the nano-silver penetrated the cells and immediately rendered the viruses inactive!
Can this Nano-silver work in humans (without causing more harm than good)? Won’t the virus mutate and change (just like in horror movies!) with all these trials? No-one is sure!
Personally, I like being scientific, but also love being my brother’s keeper! My off-the-record suggestion is this: Let the Ebola patients decide! Do they want to take the risk of taking the unapproved Nano-silver? Give it to them! Let them sign a consent form of permission. Who knows? Maybe… .
“Na the person wey wear shoe know where e dey pinch am!”
For my references, contact me:
Dr. ‘Malik Haruna King
E-mail: [email protected]
BBM: 7F559CE8
+234 7036635348, +234 8123411508