TheCable

Stella Immanuel, a Nigerian-trained doctor based in the United States, claims she has treated over 350 COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine.

In May, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the suspension of its solidarity trial of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The agency cited a study published by The Lancet, which had examined the effects of the use of hydroxychloroquine alone or when used with a macrolide, and reported a higher mortality rate.

France, Italy and Belgium have also stopped the use of the drug to treat their COVID-19 patients.

But speaking at a press conference at Washington DC on Monday,  flanked by a group of American doctors known as America’s Frontline Doctors, Immanuel, Cameroonian-born US citizen, listed drugs used to cure COVID-19 as hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and zithromax.

“I went to medical school in West Africa, Nigeria, where I took care of malaria patients, treated them with hydroxychloroquine and stuff like that. So, I’m used to these medications,” she said.

“I’m here because I have personally treated over 350 patients with COVID-19. Patients that have diabetes, patients that have high blood pressure, patients that have asthma, old people. I think my oldest patients are 92. We have not lost one patient.

“And the result has been the same. I put them on hydroxychloroquine, I put them on zinc, I put them on Zithromax, and they’re all well. For the past few months, after taking care of over 350 patients, we’ve not lost one. Not a diabetic, not somebody with high blood pressure, not somebody with asthma, not an old person.

“We’ve not lost one patient. And on top of that, I’ve put myself, my staff, and many doctors that I know on hydroxychloroquine for prevention because by the very mechanism of action, it works early and as a prophylaxis.

“It works. Nobody needs to die. I am upset. I am upset because I see people who cannot breathe. We treat them and they live. This virus has a cure. It is called hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax. I know you people want to talk about a mask. Hello? You don’t need a mask.

“I’ve gotten all kinds of threats. You know what? I don’t care. I’m not going to let Americans die. And if this is the hill where I get nailed on, I will get nailed on it. I don’t care. You can report me to the bots, you can kill me, you can do whatever, but I’m not going to let Americans die. And today I’m here to say it, that America, there is a cure for COVID-19. All this foolishness does not need to happen.”

The claims by Immanuel, who is also the founder of Fire Power Deliverance Ministry, has elicited different reactions.

Immanuel had asked Anthony Fauci, a world-leading expert on infectious diseases who does not support the use of the drug, to take a urine test to prove he is not taking hydroxychloroquine as a prophylaxis for COVID-19.

Her video has been shared by US President Donald Trump, who had said hydroxychloroquine was treatment for the disease.

The video, which reportedly garnered 17 million views, has been removed by Facebook and Twitter over misinformation claims.