Mutua wants President Kenyatta to set up team to find COVID-19 cure or vaccine

Mutua wants President Kenyatta to set up team to find COVID-19 cure or vaccine

Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua now wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to set up and fund a scientific team to find a cure for the coronavirus.

According to Mutua, it is critical for the country to invest in finding a cure, vaccine or drug combination to fight COVID-19 even as the National Emergency Response Comittee on coronavirus monitors and strives to stem the spread of the disease.

“Coronavirus will not cure itself. What we are doing now is managing the spread and this can go on forever. Therefore finding a cure, a vaccine, or drug combination that stops it is critical,” says Mutua in a statement issued Thursday.

The Machakos Governor says, as a starting point, the President should allocate a start-up budget — monies for Covid-19 Cure research — then set up a special team of top multi-sectoral scientists and other relevant persons to lead the research.

“In line with my challenge to our academics and researchers, I urge that as a country, we set a special BUDGET for Covid-19 research so that our scientists can concentrate in the labs to come up with solutions,” says Mutua.

The Governor says the country should think beyond “social distancing and washing hands, even though they are vital.”

“Someone once said that “your legs will only take you as far as your brain can go.” We need to think BEYOND social distancing and washing hands, even though they are vital. We have to think and work towards a permanent solution while preventing and slowing down the spread of the virus. That I believe, is the smart and proper thing for us humanity to do,” says Mutua.

He is further challenging county’s to also motivate its scientists and galvanize a mindset of research towards solving the coronavirus quagmire.

“Let us utilize the brains we have and start with those ones already doing something with the little they have because they have the winning attitude. We are capable,” adds the Maendeleo Chap Chap Party leader.

The Machakos Governor early this week triggered debate after he challeged University professors and research doctors in the country to come up with a cure for coronavirus.

“We have very educated professors and scientists – some who supervise PhDs and who have labs in their institutions or hospitals. My question to them is: how close are you to coming up with a cure for Covid-19?

“Or are you all waiting for someone in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and other parts of the world to find a cure then we import it? Why are we just consumers and not innovators?” posed the Governor.

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Alfred Mutua

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