Twitter bashes Doyin Okupe for sharing drugs that ‘cured’ him of coronavirus

14 May 2020 at 17:38

Twitter thinks Okupe should know better as a medical doctor.

Doyin Okupe, a former adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan. [Punch]

J
Jude Egbas

Doyin Okupe, who has served two presidents since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999, has been roundly criticized on social media platform, Twitter, for sharing the cocktail of drugs that saw him through his coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

Okupe was Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Media and Publicity and Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs.

On May 12, Okupe announced that he had just emerged from hospital where he had been treated for COVID-19.

“On the 23rd of April my wife Aduralere and I tested positive for COVID-19. To the Glory of God we were discharged this morning after obtaining two negative reports. I thank Almighty God for His Mercies. I thank Governor Dapo Abiodun (of Ogun state), the Hon Commissioner of Health Dr Coker and staff of the center," he wrote.

On the 23rd of April my wife aduralere and I tested positive to covid19 virus. To the Glory of God we were discharged this morning after obtaining 2 negative reports. I thank Almighty God for His Mercies. I thank Gov Dapo Abiodun,d hon com of health dr Coker & staff of d center
— Doyin (@doyinokupe) May 12, 2020

Some said my tweet was a scam. These are my pictures at d isolation center pic.twitter.com/3wFpquwS2K
— Doyin (@doyinokupe) May 13, 2020

A day later, Okupe, a medical doctor, revealed the cocktail of drugs that saw him through his spell at a COVID-19 isolation center.

“My medications for Covid-19. Hydroxychloroquine 400mg 2ce dly for 2days then 400mg dly for 3days. Azithromycin 500mg dly. Zinc sulphate 100mg dly . VitzC 1200mg dly . I also supported it with a mixture of ginger, garlic, turmeric and lemon. In Kaduna, they added dongoyaro leaves,” he tweeted.

With no vaccine or clinically approved medication for COVID-19 globally just yet, Okupe has been bashed all day long by social media users who say his tweet could lead to drug abuse and self-medication.

See some of the tweets below:

You shouldn’t be doing this Sir. Especially as a medical doctor. Will mislead so many people. Congrats again on recovery, but none of what you’ve outlined here has been validated for what you’re claiming. No scientific basis for your wild claims. https://t.co/sSvzxEmg4N
— Tolu Ogunlesi, MON (@toluogunlesi) May 14, 2020

1. I thought you had a MBBS degree
2. I thought you were once a senior govt official.

This is not just egregiously irresponsible, it will definitely mislead people to self-medicate on these unproven combination.

Shame!@Fmohnigeria @NCDCgov
— Tèmilolúwa (@pilotemi) May 13, 2020

There are people that will ordinarily survive COVID-19 but may be killed by hydroxychloroquine.

Azithromycin, an antibacterial drug, is useless against viruses. It will rather contribute to another major problem - Antimicrobial Resistance.

Pls be guided and be safe out there!
— Tèmilolúwa (@pilotemi) May 14, 2020

I've been struggling not to tweet at Mr doyin okupe because I can't promise to be civil and I respect his age, may God help me
— kennygee babe (@kennygee_70) May 14, 2020

In Kaduna they added dongoyaro, in Oyo nko, they added black seed abi?

Agbalagba ton se langbalangba.

When people begin to abuse these drugs now, it becomes another problem to manage.
— Abisola Ipadeola (@abisinuolaa) May 14, 2020

The best time to have kept quiet was after posting those pictures yesterday and get on with your life.

When people see this useless tweet and start to self medicate, and probably overdose on some shit, I hope you'll be fulfilled.
— Ayodeji Gasby🐼 (@Gasbytweet) May 14, 2020

Care needs to be taken with this regimen. Risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmias is very high. Some had to stop the treatment because the developed cardiac arrhythmias. It is not a combination you should take at home.
— my social pharm 🇬🇭 || 🇳🇬 (@mysocialpharm) May 13, 2020

You have, by posting this cocktail of drugs, set of a chain of events that might end up with some people getting hurt, or even dying, due to drug abuse. There is a reason why the NCDC and State Health care authorities are not publishing these things.
— Rikutoshifu 🇳🇬 (@4eyedmonk) May 14, 2020

Irresponsible of Mr Okupe to post this.. That's my only comment other than to point out that the US CDC reported that around 50% of those treated with HydroxyChloroquine didn't survive plus there's the risk of cardiovascular problems..
— Arthur (@KingArthur9ja) May 14, 2020

However, some Twitter users threw their support behind the former presidency spokesperson:

Very vital info cus majority of us have been wondering the kind of treatment being administered on the covid-19 patients since no vaccine in sight yet.Thank you so much sir @Doyin for sharing.
— Jeffrey Ubeku (@jeffreyubeks) May 14, 2020

Someone got diagnosed with the lethal virus, was surprisingly healed from the illness.

He came to his handle and revealed how he was able to conquer the deadly disease and some people were busy condemning him for doing so.
— Mikel (@mekwe001) May 14, 2020

Thanks for the full disclosure. This disclosure means treating coronavirus is not a myth and it shows we can conquer it.

However, to those who have preexisting conditions, kindly get the advice of your physician 🙏.
— Daniel Balogun (@DanielBalogun) May 14, 2020

Thank you. Thank GOD for your recovery.

Please pay no attention to these alarmists and children of doom that wants to perpetually keep the whole world in fear when we have a cheap and effective cure.

Start early you will be fine.
— Oghenekaro (@Therealsirkay_) May 14, 2020

People are just crying under this thread.

It is no hidden fact that those drugs he Mr. Doyin mentioned has worked for a lot of people and president Trump even mentioned them too sometime ago.

Oh I forgot, it is Twitter, everyone must act woke.
— Nathan 🇳🇬 (@HereIsNathaniel) May 14, 2020

Okupe is not the first member of Nigeria's political elite to go public with how they survived COVID-19. In April, Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed who had been diagnosed with the virus, disclosed that he had been treated with Chloroquine--a drug whose potency on COVID-19 continues to divide opinions since it was first touted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

What do you make of Okupe's decision to go public with the cocktail of drugs that saved his life?

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J
Jude Egbas