IATF Starts Distribution of Virgin Coconut Oil to Hospitals

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has started distributing virgin coconut oil (VCO) to hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) to serve as an adjunct treatment for mild cases of Covid-19.  Marco Reyes, president of VCO Philippines (Virgin Coconut Oil Producers and Traders Association of the Philippines) and vice-chairman of UCAP (United Coconut Association of the Philippines) has coordinated with IATF vice-chairman and Cabinet Secretary Carlo Nograles for the donation of VCO that will be distributed by the IATF to Level 1 hospitals in the NCR, the epicenter of Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

Reyes added that the VCO Philippines’ move hopefully will be the start of the national government’s strong push to promote VCO as a prophylaxis, if not an outright adjunctive cure for mild cases of Covid-19.  “VCO must always be a part of every supplementation strategy for Covid-19.  First, because it is completely safe.  Second, because it is effective, at the least and, as of now, for mild symptoms as per DOST trials.”  

The DOST (Department of Science and Technology)-FNRI (Food and Nutrition Research Institute) had conducted a study which successfully showed that incorporating VCO in meals of suspected and probable Covid-19 cases in Santa Rosa City, Laguna helped in their recovery.

Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said the agency was still waiting for the results of the clinical trial on virgin coconut oil which it has funded.  It is being done at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).  “Our ongoing clinical trials for VCO for severe and moderate cases is picking up, there are more patients that have joined,” dela Peña said in a recent weekly virtual Bayanihan report.  He said there was a low percentage of patients that qualify to join the clinical trial because of the strict requirement for participants.  “Only 28 patients passed the screening from 549 volunteers that agreed to join the clinical trial,” dela Peña said.