Categories: World News

French Armed Forces Buy Chloroquine From China As ‘Precaution’

File Photo of a gunman, posing for a portrait on an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) of the French Army during the Barkhane operation in northern Burkina Faso on November 12, 2019.
MICHELE CATTANI / AFP

 

France’s armed forces ministry on Friday said it had bought a consignment of the anti-malarial drug chloroquine from China as a precaution in case it becomes an approved medication for the coronavirus, an idea dismissed by many experts.

The ministry made the statement following a viral video on social media showing packages marked as chloroquine destined for the French army.

“Against the background of strong tensions in the provisioning of pharmaceutical materials, the armed forces ministry carried out a purchase as a precaution,” it said, confirming that the purchase had been from China.

It said the purchased drug would be ready “if ever chloroquine is authorised by the health authorities as useful for fighting against COVID-19,” it added.

There has been impassioned debate in France on the effectiveness of chloroquine in treating the coronavirus, a cause championed by Professor Didier Raoult, a prominent but controversial Marseille-based doctor.

President Donald Trump has also backed the idea. But France has only authorised its use for treating the gravest virus cases and a recent US study linked chloroquine to a higher death rate.

In the video on social media, a voice can be saying that the consignment amounts to 70 kilogrammes and was destined for the army’s central pharmacy. The ministry, however, could not confirm how much of the substance was imported.

Four French soldiers deployed in the Sahel region of western Africa in France’s anti-jihadist Barkhane force tested positive earlier this month for coronavirus.

Moreover, nearly half of the 2,300 sailors who were aboard France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and support craft when a coronavirus outbreak occurred at sea have tested positive for the virus.

Rejoice Ewodage

Disqus Comments Loading...
Share
Published by
Rejoice Ewodage

Recent Posts

NSCDC Deploys 2,300 Personnel In Rivers For Easter

The personnel will ensure the protection of critical national assets and forestall any form of…

45 mins ago

Tinubu Preaches Unity, Compassion At Easter, Hails Nigerians’ Sacrifices

Easter is an event that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It…

53 mins ago

Bridging Energy Access Gap Vital For Nigeria’s Economic Growth- NNPCL

To bridge the energy access gap in Nigeria, Kyari said NNPC Ltd was working on…

1 hour ago

South Africa’s Electoral Umpire Bars Ex-President Zuma From May Election

Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail in June 2021 after refusing to testify…

2 hours ago

Fallen Crypto Tycoon Bankman-Fried Gets 25-Year Sentence

Although lower than the 40-50 years sought by the government, the Justice Department praised the…

2 hours ago

Police Hand Over Delta King, Ikolo To Military

The development has been confirmed by the Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command. Bright…

3 hours ago