This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 16, 2020, a breakthrough discovery was made by UK researchers in the fight against COVID-19. A team of scientists found that dexamethasone, a low-cost and widely available drug, can significantly reduce the number of deaths caused by the virus.
The drug, which has been used to reduce inflammation in various conditions, has shown great success in reducing the death rate among COVID-19 patients. According to experts, if the drug had been used in COVID-19 patients in the UK when the pandemic hit, about 5,000 lives would not have been lost.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Deputy Director at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Professor Matilu Mwau noted that the drug is readily available in the country. He emphasized the importance of looking into such drugs, saying, "We need to look more into these sorts of drugs, we will eventually find a drug that works but the good news we have had about other drugs have ended up being disappointing."
Professor Mwau also highlighted the drug's availability, stating, "It is readily available in the country like now if you fight with your enemy and go to the hospital with a swollen head you will be given dexamethasone."
During its trial period by Oxford University, 2,000 patients in hospital were administered with the drug while 4,000 did not get the dose. The results showed a significant reduction in the risk of death, with patients on ventilators seeing a reduction from 40% to 28%, and patients needing oxygen seeing a reduction from 25% to 20%.
Lead researcher Prof Martin Landray noted that when appropriate, hospital patients should now be given the drug without delay, but people should not go out and buy it to take at home.
