A former Special Adviser on Education to former Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Dr. Bisi Akin-Alabi, has narrated how she recovered from mild symptoms of Coronavirus. Akin-Alabi said she used Vitamin C and African solutions to overcome the virus.

She said: “My experience of COVID-19 is weird as I believe I had it. Though I did not get tested as I was told at the University College Hospital (UCH) that they had no capacity for testing. I was asked to go to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Lagos. So, I resorted to self-help. I got back home and self-isolate and called someone that I know who is a medical doctor (Harvard-trained) and also is trained as a Nigerian traditional medicine practitioner. She gave me a prescription of four herbal mixtures and asked me to drink half a glass twice daily for seven days.

“I was also asked to take more Vitamin C and Zinc Sulphate. I took 2000mg of Vitamin C and 200mg of Zinc for seven days and became well.

“The symptoms started on March 20, 2020 as itchy throats, dull aches in my throats, fever and severe headaches.

“Please note that this is my personal experience and what worked for me. I suspect that what we have in Nigeria maybe the mild form because the symptoms were mild except for the headaches. I also feel we must look inward too for Afrocentric solutions to this pandemic. We do not need to copy and paste what the West is doing.

“Remember their environment is entirely different from ours. We have the Sun that provides immense protection as it denatured the virus configuration, as it is known that COVID-19 is destroyed at a temperature higher than 26⁰C. So, a total lockdown may not be a good idea here but isolating those who have been confirmed positive or displaying the symptoms of it.

“We also know that our living conditions are not as good as what obtains abroad. Thirty individuals may be cramped into one small room, what the government should endeavour to do moving forward is to subsidise the costs of fruits and vegetables or make it free to the poor in the society so that they can have access to the nutrients and other minerals to fortify their immune system so they can stay healthy.

“Second, provide mass enlightenment campaigns on health education, safe hygiene practices and balanced diets.

“Third, continue to encourage the practice of social distancing and four, keep our borders locked as so many foreigners are thinking of visiting us now as the miracle of the low numbers of deaths and COVID-19 incidences have marvelled the world.” (The Guardian)