Some 100 doctors plead with Ramaphosa to urgently review Ivermectin in Covid-19 battle
Close to 100 South African healthcare professionals have issued a passionate plea to President Cyril Ramphosa to set up an urgent special council to conduct a rapid review of the antiparasitic drug Ivermectin.
Durban-based GP, Dr. Naseeba Kathrada, penned a heartfelt letter to the president, saying healthcare workers and the people of South Africa are “exhausted and helpless” in the face of the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak raging across the country.
Kathrada said new scientific data is emerging daily showing Ivermectin’s effectiveness, imploring the President to legalise the drug.
“Trust us, the health professionals who are the most vulnerable against this disease, to dispense Ivermectin with informed consent.”
The product is used for the treatment and control of parasites in animals and is currently not registered for human use in the country, according to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra).
‘A plea for hope and trust in these unprecedented times’
“Mr President, I woke up this morning to the news that we have just experienced our country’s deadliest week with over 20 000 deaths in the past 7 days in this second wave. Mr President, we are living in unprecedented times and right now – families are left shattered by the hour. Morale amongst healthcare workers is the lowest it’s ever been and we on the frontline are exhausted,” Kathrada begins.
“You, Mr President have the authority and the ability to give us some hope in this dark hour.”
She said Ramaphosa has the authority to set up an urgent special council to conduct a thorough and rapid review of Ivermectin.
“Just the announcement of such a council will bring some hope back to families who have infected loved ones. We as frontline workers will be re-energised knowing that you trust us to uphold the oath ‘first do no harm’ by giving us this potent anti-inflammatory drug to add to our seemingly defenceless fight against this new strain.”
And while Kathrada “fully appreciates” the need for a body like SAHPRA, she criticised the body saying: “But let’s face it Mr. President, they are not the most popular organisation amongst laypeople and healthcare workers alike at this point.”
“Asking for doctors to apply for a section 21 per patient while some of us are seeing over 60 Covid positive cases per day is nothing short of ridiculous. Have you seen that application form Mr President? And now they want each submission to be done via their online portal. These, coupled with a R300 fee per submission, is the reason why no doctors will bother. We just DO NOT have the time !”
Kathrada pointed to the President that Ivermectin has been around since 1975 and is FDA approved and authorised for human use in many countries around the world.
She added that four countries have now added it to their Covid Treatment protocol, and the drug has won the Nobel prize in medicine
Beyond comprehension
“Most importantly, Mr. President, the logistics of running a trial while 20 000 people are dying in a week is beyond comprehension. There’s no money in running a trial for a refurbished drug, there’s no time to sit and fill in forms per person enrolled in a trial – moreover in full PPE. All this after ethics approval and recruitment etc etc etc.”
Kathrada said with the black market booming, “we cannot even dream of doing a placebo-controlled trial knowing that candidates who are supposed to be on placebo can buy ivermectin from Justin Casey down the road or from his friend, Al Reddy, and if they don’t have any then Senzo Siza will definitely hook them up.”
“Mr. President, people are dying. Mr. President, families are despondent and hopeless. Mr. President, we are exhausted and helpless.”
Ivermectin data readily avaialble
Kathtdada emphasized that “I am by no means calling Ivermectin a ‘Miracle drug.’”
There are hundreds of studies done already and new data is emerging daily showing the promise of Ivermectin. Your committee can review all this data which is readily and easily available.
“What I am saying is that it is a safe drug – your Urgent Ivermectin Review Committee will attest to that – of that .. I am certain. SAHPRA’s first of 3 pillars is SAFETY.”
Kathrada said there is no need or time for a formal application at this time.
“Respected President, I implore you at this time of need, legalise Ivermectin – trust us – the health professionals who are the most vulnerable against this disease – to dispense Ivermectin with informed consent. Give us the freedom of choice to take this drug as prophylaxis so that we have a better chance to be around when the vaccine arrives to help roll that out.”
Unprecedented times, unprecedented measures
Kathrada said authorizing the use of Ivermectin will give hope back to people who have loved ones who are infected and alone in overcrowded hospitals.
“Give us, the country’s frontline workers and first line of defence your trust. Armour us with this safe drug so that we know that we are doing everything possible to save our patients lives.”
She ends by saying: “Freedom of choice is a democratic right of the people of South Africa.”
My name is Dr Naseeba Kathrada
Mr President, On behalf of all those signed in agreement below:
Dr Martin Gill -MBBCh BSc (Med) FCS (orl ) Wits.
Dr Neetu Govender Registered Chiropractor MT Chiro SA
Dr Karla Hechter-Schulz MB ChB. DTMH
Dr Jyothi Sookram MBBCh (wits) BSc Hons(UNP)
Dr R.N.Singh MB ChB. (Natal)
Dr S Mkhize MBChB( Natal) DA(SA) MMed Anaes.
Dr Kevin Naidu MBChB (UNITRA)
Anisa Mosam MBChB, FC Derm, Mmed, PhD ( UKZN)
Dr E Y Vahed MBChB (UKZN)
Velo Govender Social work Private Practitioner (UKZN)
Dr. S. A. Sunichur- MB BS (Utkal)
Dr. Y. Nagdee (MBBCh)
Dr Mahomed I I Moola MBBCh(wits)DCH(SA)DA(SA) FCFP(SA)
Dr C Rughoobeer B Pharm, MB ChB
Dr S.Narraindoo M.B.B.S
Dr Sirini Singh MBChB
Dr Kasthurba Maharaj MBCHB FCPSA
Claire van Staden Registered ICU trained Nurse
Dr Farzana SayedMBBCh (Wits) DipEC DOH
Varsha Soni (UKZN) B Pharm
DR SAS Haffejee – MBBCH WITS
Dr Shamila Adam MB.ChB
Dr Yusuf Osman MbChB MPrax Med (Ntl) DOH (Wits)
Dr Yasmeen Thandar PhD MMedSc BPharm (UKZN)
Dr S Dlamuka, MBchB(UKZN), HIV man.dip
Dr Feroza Khan – Gp
Dr Asiya Desai MBChB
Dr Tasneem Latiff MBBCH (WITS)
Dr Retha Luyt – MBChB
Dr Siboniso Dlamuka, MBchB(UKZN), HIV man. dip
Dr GLA Hlongwa MBChB, (natal)
Major Pathmaseelan Runga Rasen B-Tech Occ Health Nursing
Dr HM Dhooma BSc MBChB DOH
Dr G Cakwebe BSc MBChB DA (SA)
Dr Sharisha Surajballi MBCHB; FC OPHTH(SA); MMed (UKZN)
Dr Mayaven Naidoo, MBChB, FCPsych (SA)
Dr AA Moosa Mbchb FCFP Family Physician
Dr N. C. Majali, MBCHB, MBA UKZN
Dr MJ Gause Bsc MBChB
Dr René Leitch – MBChB, DA, DipEC
Dr Zeenat Dawood Moorad- MBCHB, FCPath (Haematology), MMED, CERT Clin Haem
Jeremy Deokynarain (BPharm)(Wits)
Dr N.G.Zulu, MBCHB, FCS (SA)
Dr H Paruk, MBCHB, FCN
Dr M Khumalo MBchB, FCOG(SA), Cert. Urogynaecology
Dr Ruven Shah MBChB, Dip PEC
Dr Navasja Sewraj MBChb, Stell | MBA Stell
Dr C Naidoo MB CHB D.A. (S.A.) DOH (NATAL)
Dr GLA Hlongwa, MMED herbalist
Dr T.Mofokeng MBCHB, Dip Ophth (SA)
Dr M Naicker MBCHB FCOG (SA)
Dr J N Mudaly MBCHB (Med)
Dr M Minty MBCHB, DOH
Dr Prashini Govender MBCHB, DCH, MECI, FCPaedS
Dr Z A Gilani M Fam. Med (UKZN)
Dr Y Y Vahed M.B.,B.S. (GUNTUR)
Mrs R Gilani BPharm ukzn
Dr T Ramasar : MBCHB, FCPsych(SA), MMED
Dr Catherine Davies MBBCh Wits, MBA
Dr P Ramlachan MB ChB
Dr T.Mofokeng MBCHB,Dip Ophth(SA)
Dr M Naicker MBCHB FCOG(SA)
Dr M R Ghuman MSc Med (Wits), FCPaed (SA)
Dr C S Liebenberg MBChB DA(SA)
Dr Sailuja Naidu MBChB (Natal), DA(SA), FCA(SA)
Dr Zakhele Khumalo -MBChB, LLM, MBA
DR Idrees Manga MBCHB
Dr Nishen Maharaj MBCHB (UKZN)
Dr M Jagot MBChB, PGDOH – UKZN
Dr N M Peer MBBCh
Dr A Moodley MBChB
Dr A Moola MBChB
Dr Safiyya Elias BDS (Wits)
Dr E A G Essa (MBChb Natal)
Dr S Moodley MBCHB, FCOG (SA), MMED
Dr R Maharaj MBChB, FCP (SA)
Dr L Jugdeo MBChB
Dr D A Padayachee MB ChB
Dr S Moodley MBCHB, FCOG (SA), MMED
Dr K.B Olla MBCHB, FCPsych (SA)
Dr Mashra Gani.. MBBCH (PE)
Dr Ismail Jajbhay MB ChB (UKZN)
Nazlie Luyt RN
Dr H Dama MBChB, DCH(SA), FCPaed(SA),Cardiology (SA) Paed
Dr A Ramlal MBCHB
Dr Nabeela Sheik-Hamid MBChB
Dr Tahera AA Essay MBCHB
Dr Carmen Basson Dentist
Dr AC van Wyk. BChD (Stell)
Dr T.Khan MBBCh
Dr M Lambrechts (MBBCh)
Dr S Nadesan MB chB
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