Cuba ready to help Nigeria battle COVID-19 – Envoy says

– Cuba’s ambassador to Nigeria, Clara Escandell, said her country will be ready to help Nigeria in the fight against COVID-19 spread

– Escandell, however, said that the Nigerian government has not tabled such request before its Cuban counterpart

– Cuba is currently attracting global acclaim for the impressive results its drug has in the control and management of COVID-19

As Nigeria’s confirmed coronavirus cases increase daily, the most populous black nation may need the help of Cuba, the Caribbean nation popular for its feats in the biomedical industry. Cuba is currently attracting global acclaim for the impressive results its “wonder drug,” the Interferon Alpha 2B, had in the control and management of COVID-19.

The Cuban ambassador to Nigeria, Clara Escandell, said her country will be ready to help Nigeria in the fight against COVID-19 spread. Escandell who noted that Cuba has “historical relationship” with Nigeria and will be “attentive to the request of the country”, however, said no such request had been made “at the moment.” “Cuba and Nigeria have a historical relationship. Through the veins of many Cubans flow blood from the peoples that make up this great country. There is an enormous cultural and idiosyncratic influence from Nigeria in many aspects of our social life, like music,” Escandell was quoted to have said. Cuba is ready to assist Nigeria on coronavirus battle, envoy says. She added that if the Nigerian government tabled the request for help, Cuba will react and agreements will be reached on “what conduct can be followed.” It was gathered that due to the reputed effectiveness of the Interferon Alpha 2B, many countries are already seeking Cuban help to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Italy has invited the Cubans to assist as it battle COVID-19 while 50 biomedical experts from the Cuban Medical Brigade have been sent to the European country. Italy’s action was as a result of the role the Interferon Alpha 2B played in China. Although the Interferon Alpha 2B is not a vaccine, it is “one of the 30 medicines chosen by the Chinese National Health Commission to fight the virus” according to Helen Yaffe, who teaches Cuban and Latin American development at the University of Glasgow.