LSUHS Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali lauds President Trump's COVID-19 response at RNC

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali  lauded President Donald Trump's response to the COVID-19 pandemic during remarks at the Republican National Convention on Monday night in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Ghali spoke for just more than three minutes at the convention. His remarks came just days after speakers at the Democratic National Convention assailed Trump's handling of the crisis.

"I feel uniquely positioned to share how President Trump’s decisive leadership led to a rapid and efficient response to the coronavirus pandemic. I know this as a health professional, and as a COVID patient,'' Ghali said.

Ghali was hospitalized with COVID-19 earlier this month.

In his remarks, Ghali praised the president for clearing the way for producing vaccines to fight COVID-19.

"The devastating effects of the coronavirus demanded immediate changes at the regulatory level,'' Ghali said. "A prompt response led by President Trump cleared away the red tape that usually makes drug approvals a long and drawn out process. By harnessing the resources of the federal government and the private sector, President Trump’s 'Operation Warp Speed' is accelerating the testing, supply, development and distribution of therapeutics, diagnostics, and very shortly, effective vaccines to counter COVID-19.''

Ghali offered three examples in praising the president's handling of COVID-19, including the recent FDA approval of using plasma as a potential treatment for the virus.

"First, on February 26th, two phase three clinical trials studying Remdesivir were initiated,'' he said. "Just two months later the FDA approved Remdesivir for emergency use to treat COVID-19. Normally this is a three-to-five year process.The speed with which this happened in a safe but efficient manner is unheard of.

"Second, the FDA granted expanded access to COVID-19 convalescent plasma. Within 24 hours of this approval, we were administering convalescent plasma and Remdesivir to a critically ill patient….a former Army Ranger and physician. Had it not been for the rapid deployment of these medicines, this patient, who is my colleague and friend, would have surely died.

"And third, at the end of July, I developed a fever and a mild cough. I reached out to our testing team and received one of the Abbott Rapid Tests – yet another tool quickly approved by the administration. Within 15 minutes my test came back positive, and within four hours I was receiving my Remdesivir doses followed by an infusion of convalescent plasma.''

He concluded by heaping more praise on Trump.

"Donald Trump truly moved mountains to save lives and he deserves credit,'' he said. "Thank you, President Trump for providing timely access to critical diagnostics and therapeutics during this pandemic. Thank you for your decisive leadership in these challenging times.''