United States PRESIDENT Donald Trump praised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for quickly responding in giving the go-signal for the use of a malaria drug to effectively contain the novel corona virus.

This malaria drug, says Trump, has been in the market for quite some which proves that it is already safe for human consumption. The FDA has fast-track the process of testing the drug in the fight against COVID-19 which Trump describes as “very successful” in determining the efficacy of the drug against the new corona virus.

President Trump said that chloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria and severe arthritis, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to test as a COVID-19 coronavirus treatment, as the number of cases nationwide continues to increase.

Wikipedia describes chloroquine is “a medication used to prevent and to treat malaria in areas where malaria is known to be sensitive to its effects.[1] Certain types of malaria, resistant strains, and complicated cases typically require different or additional medication.[1] Occasionally it is used for amebiasis that is occurring outside the intestines, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus.[1] It is taken by mouth.[1] It is also being used experimentally in COVID-19 as of 2020.[2]

Common side effects include muscle problems, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and skin rash.[1] Serious side effects include problems with vision, muscle damage, seizures, and low blood cell levels.[1] It appears to be safe for use during pregnancy.[1][3] Chloroquine is a member of the drug class 4-aminoquinoline.[1] It works against the asexual form of malaria inside the red blood cell.[1]

Chloroquine was discovered in 1934 by Hans Andersag.[4][5] It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system.[6] It is available as a generic medication.[1] The wholesale cost in the developing world is about US$0.04.[7] In the United States, it costs about US$5.30 per dose.”

Another malaria drug, Hydroxychloroquine, was also mentioned by Trump.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is reportedly sold under the brand name Plaquenil among others, is a medication used for the prevention and treatment of certain types of malaria. Specifically it is used for chloroquine-sensitive malaria. Other uses include treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and porphyria cutanea tarda.

Trump assures production and availability of these drugs as soon as possible.

Trump’s announcement came after China