The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the use of untested Ebola drugs to combat the outbreak of the Ebola disease in West Africa.
The Assistant Director-General for Health, at the WHO, Dr Marie–Paule Kieny confirmed this at a press conference at Geneva on Tuesday.
The World Health Organization’s confirmation came after the Liberia government confirmed on Tuesday it had ordered three courses of the same treatment given to the American volunteer who contracted the disease last week.
Two batches of the experimental drugs called ZMapp are expected to arrive in Liberia on Wednesday and will be given to three doctors who will administer them to their patients.
This confirmation comes after the Liberian expressed concern last week that the drug had been given to the two Americans, but not to infected Liberians thus threatening to explore getting some on their own.
Speaking at the press conference, Dr Marie–Paule Kieny insisted “it is ethical to register and administer intervention as potential treatment as intervention”
She however admitted that, there were caveats to administering these experimental drugs and noted that, there should “be transparency of all aspect of care, freedom of choice respect for person, preservation of dignity and the involvement of the community”
Meanwhile the Liberia government in a communiqué released on Wednesday, has called on patients who want the drug to sign an undertaken which will absorb the Liberia government of any blame.
By: Benjamin Epton Owusu/Citifmonline.com/Ghana