Efforts to find cure need collaboration

WHEN Covid-19 became a global pandemic, in PNG, number of cases increased with panic spreading in the country which was made worse by the fear installed by the Government and its concerned department(s).
In the end, as expected and as what National Doctors Association (NDA) stated and presented to the national parliamentary committee on state of emergency regarding Covid-19, it did little damage, those few who died had comorbidities.
Those that got infected recovered as alluded.
The experience is from its sister flu viruses.
The difference was covid-19 was a lung eater and a blood cotter, and that is the findings revealed to us internationally.
Did we find this too in PNG?
No research was done.
NDA’s presentation to the parliamentary committee regarding Covid-19 remains as is to this day.
Now, this is from me.
There is something that is protecting the Melanesians.
Is the black pigment in us that is the answer?
Interestingly, it could be.
One of our colleague might come up with the research findings.
Work has previously been done on this too.
He has talked to the University of PNG and PNG Medical Society already so we will just wait and see how it’s going to go.
I had the chance to chat with one of the computer-generated simulation team’s member.
The team studied the three dimensional structures of the coronavirus.
The team gathered all the medical drugs and its computer generated structures and challenged each to the environment coronavirus was, to its envelope, cell wall, nuclear membrane and the hosts’ cell wall, cytoplasm and its organelles and the nuclear membrane.
From this computer simulation, the team came up with the top ten known drugs capable of treating Covid-19. The team couldn’t disclose the top four names.
Obviously, it will be made known soon.
It was made known to me after a weekender article declare a Covid-19 cure to the world and breakthrough by Papua New Guinean scientists.
Temperature study was done in the model study.
In PNG, all Papua New Guineans know of two miracle drugs, amoxicillin and panadol.
In the medical world, all doctors know of drugs that are workhorses that can treat many different diseases.
I am pretty sure, the top four drugs this team is alluding to are in this group of robust drugs.
I informed the colleague that the next phase of the study would be on patients.
I advised him to speak to his team to have an audience with relevant bodies for collaboration and come up with an amicable way forward even if they own the idea.
I guess this was done.
This team has gone ahead to register a company just two months ago and K10 million was given to them by the Government.
This does not go down well with the public and the medical fraternity.
The team’s research work is credible but to sign a K10 million to a neonate company is questionable and the Government has come so low in this decision.
This team’s intentions overlooked collaboration.
This team’s intentions made them to run than walk.
This team’s intentions ignored established research facilities such as the ones at the UPNG, PNG University of Technology, University of Goroka, PNG Institute of Medical Research, MRAC, Agriculture and Health departments.
This team’s intentions ignored the value of their tremendous work and it resulted in lack of cohesion.
Whatever the outcome, trial and approval phases will require a great number of collaboration, inputs and participation, and it won’t be this team alone.
The world is watching on this great monumental development on Covid-19.
News of it has reached the international news.

Dr. James Naipao
President
National Doctors Association