The Ministry of Health has cautioned Kenyans against believing unfounded claims regarding there being a cure for Covid-19.
Acting Director General Patrick Amoth on Tuesday said there are many claims on social media alleging that hydroxychloquine can treat the disease.
This comes after a viral video of a doctor from Texas who claimed that she had used the drug to treat over 300 Covid-19 patients.
The video by a doctor called Stella Immanuel alleged that despite patients having other underlying conditions, the drug, zinc and zithromax have proved a great breakthrough in treatment.
The video has since been flagged as fake news by Face book and Twitter and pulled down.
Hydroxychloroquine is a drug sold under the brand name Plaquenil among others and is used to prevent and treat malaria in areas where malaria remains sensitive to chloroquine.
Other uses include treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and porphyria cutanea tarda.
It is taken orally.
"The video was based on individual sentiments without any scientific evidence. WHO has set out clear guidelines with regards to any treatment of the disease,” Amoth said.
Amoth said tests have proved that the drug does not add any value to Covid-19 treatment but rather causes more risks to those with underlying conditions such as heart disease.
“The drug also damages the liver and has no scientific basis. I, therefore, urge all of us, please let us be guided by science to end of this pandemic,” he said.
Amoth said after further clinical tests to the drug, it had been pulled down from the list of solidarity trials after proof that it does not add any value.
He said extra tests had also been done to ARVs and as a result, also pulled down from the solidarity trial on the same grounds.
