Russia offers PH cure for COVID-19

By Minerva BC Newman

CEBU CITY — The Russian Federation, through its Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev has offered to donate a medicine that it used in treating coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in Russia.

Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev
(Minerva BC Newman / MANILA BULLETIN)

Khovaev told the media that Russia has successfully tried an existing medicine that they had developed called “Cicloferon” for cough, flu, fever, and others which they tried on coronavirus patients and found to be very effective.

“We have no more cases of COVID-19 so far,” he said.

The Ambassador offered to donate this medicine to the Philippines and should be considered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health (DOH) as treatment, according to the country’s procedures and protocols.

Khovaev said Cicloferon is an over-the-counter medicine which the Russian medical practitioners precribed to those who were infected with COVID-19 and recovered after taking it.

“Our medicine is as potent as our weapons,” he added and reminded Filipinos, particularly the Cebuanos not to panic because Russsia is ready to supply the country with the medicine which is highly-effective for treatment of patients infected with COVID-19.

Khovaev said the Philippines must recover from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) because the tourism potentials of Cebu and the country for Russian tourists is great.

“Russia is very safe from the COVID-19and we are encouraging more Filipinos/Cebuanos to visit Russia,” he said.

Russia and the Philippines committed to have a robust partnership to help the country in all aspects of security and defense and cyber law enforcement collaboration said Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev.

Khovaev visited Cebu City Wednesday as guest to an event hosted by Rotary Club of Metro Cebu at the Seda Ayala Center.

He said Russia and the Philippines have close coordination, partners in security and defense, and are allies in finding solutions to crimes, illegal drugs, and other trans-national crimes related to cybertechnology, security and defense.

“We have very useful and fruitful diplomatic discussions with the Philippines and Russia has committed to a robust partnership with the country to help her in all aspects of security and defense, and cyber law enforcement,” Khovaev said.

Krovaev said Russia is offering its advanced digital technology to fight crimes through cyber law enforcement. “We are fully protected because our cybertechnology is very much advanced than any country in the world.”

Russia also offered close coordination with the Philippines in terms of project developments in the energy sector, tourism, business, science, arts and culture, and council education exchanges, Krovaev added.

According toKrovaev, Cebu is a dynamic region, a driver for business and tourists’ potentials for Russia. This is why Russia wants to have a partnership with Cebu in terms of more Russians tourists to come to Cebu and more Filipino tourists going to Russia.

He said it is easier to get a Russian visa than a US visa. Cebu and Russia plan to have a joint promotional tourism program by November or December this year, said Armi Garcia, honorary consul to the Federation of Russia.

“There is a need to improve connectivity between Russia and Cebu because we already have a working system and it is working well. Russians are long staying tourists,” Garcia said.

“And we spend a lot of money as tourists in other countries,” Krovaev added

With Ambassador Khovaev were Embassy of the Russian Federation’s second secretary Denis Karenin and chairperson, honorary consul to Russia Armi Garcia.

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