Seven Level 1 hospitals in Metro Manila charged with treating mild COVID-19 cases this week received supplies of virgin coconut oil (VCO) as Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles continued distributing what he referred to as a “zero-risk, high reward” option to treat patients suffering from mild symptoms of the disease, which currently has over 100,000 active cases in the country.
Nograles pointed out that “those who want to try VCO to treat mild COVID symptoms do not need a special permit to use VCO, and neither does VCO require FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval to be bought or sold––you can get it in any supermarket and grocery.”
Patients with COVID-19 symptoms are advised to take one tablespoon of VCO after each meal for three straight days.
“The clinical trials conducted by the DOST (Department of Science and Technology) show that if you have mild COVID symptoms, there are no risks involved in taking VCO, but there are possible benefits,” said the Palace official.
He stressed that “given the zero-risk, high reward potential of VCO, it makes sense to try it and give it to those who could possibly benefit from it.”
“Maraming may COVID at maraming nangangailangan; kailangan natin magtulungan.”
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) co-chair on Wednesday distributed supplies of VCO to four Level 1 hospitals in Metro Manila, namely the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center and the Trinity Woman and Child Hospital in Manila; Our Lady of Grace Hospital in Caloocan; and the Navotas City Hospital in Navotas.
The previous day, the former legislator from Davao handed over VCO stocks to three Level 1 hospitals: the Ospital ng Parañaque and Medical Center Parañaque in Parañaque, and the St. Victoria Hospital in Marikina.
The seven hospitals have a total of 191 patients with mild COVID symptoms under their care.
“The clinical trials conducted by the DOST (Department of Science and Technology) show that if you have mild COVID symptoms, there are no risks involved in taking VCO, but there are possible benefits.”
Nograles reiterated that the distribution of VCO is a personal initiative, and that the VCO supplies were not purchased using government funds.
As is the case with hospitals that had earlier received VCO supplies from the Nograles-led project, the VCO will be given to patients on a voluntary basis.
Patients with COVID-19 symptoms are advised to take one tablespoon of VCO after each meal for three straight days. If tolerated well, they are then advised to double the dosage from the fourth day onward, until the patient tests negative. Patients may also rub VCO on their nostrils and gargle with VCO to help alleviate symptoms.