“We were not carried along” – UNIBEN denounces alleged HIV/AIDS cure

S controversy continues to trailthe alleged discovery of a drug for the cure of HIV/AIDS by the Dean of School of Basic Medical Sciences of the University of Benin, Prof. Isaiah Ibeh, the authorities of the institution, yesterday, in Benin, faulted the dean’s claims.

Prof. Ibeh had, in a recent interview, hinted of the discovery of an oral drug made from plants extraction in Nigeria for the possible cure of the pandemic HIV/AIDS.

Reacting to Prof. Ibeh’s claim during an interaction with newsmen who were at the university to authenticate the alleged discovery, Provost, College of Medical Sciences of the University, Prof. Vincent Iyawe, said the institution was not in agreement with Prof. Ibeh’s claim for now, alleging that the University was, “not carried along” in the research He said: “The School would like to take credit for a break- through, but it cannot align with the breakthrough because the College was not consulted, the University was not consulted, and he did not carry anybody along.

“There are protocols and procedures. Going from stage to stage, we ought to give it clinical trials, by taking it to the Federal Ministry of Health to do clinical trials and many other things involved. We also needed to take it to National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and many other things had to be done before you come out with your claims, in addition to taking it to World Health Organisation.”

He said all the university was doing was to protect Prof. Ibeh and the integrity of the institution.