It is as if the developed world does not expect any major advancement in science, medicine, ICT, etc from Africa. The outside world always approaches African discoveries or solutions with skepticism that advances further into utter disbelief. This then extends even further to the issuance of public caution and warning against African solutions under the pretext that it is not verified. At this stage, one is left with a clear impression, a direct instruction even, that reinforces the order that nobody goes to Africa for solution.
Established institutions insist along this line, completely ignoring African solutions or discoveries invented within Africa continent; in fact paying no attention to it at all, as if some piece of nothingness. COVID-19 has again brought this bizarre dismissive attitude towards Africa to fore. Madagascar has been in the news over the past weeks for allegedly discovering the cure to coronavirus. President Andry Rajeolina has continued to insist that Madagascar’s COVID-Organics is COVID-19 remedy.
President Andry has become the Chief marketing officer of his country’s remedy declaring that “this herbal tea gives results in seven days”. He has been at the frontline championing this remedy much so that a French media called the drug, “the President’s controversial miracle cure”. Interestingly, Madagascar has recorded no death from COVID-19 and only has a total of 149 confirmed cases. The country’s army goes around distributing the drug across the island country, from house to house.
It is plausible to say that the world looks down on Africa and really expects less from the Continent with the largest composition of natural and mineral resources in the whole world, though ironically the least developed continent in all terms of human development indices.
However, nobody including WHO has given serious thought to the possibility that COVID-Organics may be the breakthrough in the frantic search for medication against COVID-19. Instead, WHO has issued a warning claiming that “Africans deserve to use medicines tested to the same standards as people in the rest of the world”. Yet, the world continues to hysterically race in search of a cure, while dismissing an African solution, nay, a possible solution to the entire world, from Africa. Apparently undaunted, Madagascar has donated their COVID-Organics to Equatorial Guinea, with a record of 315 confirmed cases, and one death. It is plausible to say that the world looks down on Africa and really expects less from the Continent with the largest composition of natural and mineral resources in the whole world, though ironically the least developed continent in all terms of human development indices.
If Madagascar was a European or North American country, would there be as many disbelievers as they are of its remedy? A very important fact is that the struggle for COVID-19 remedy is comparable to war. Countries fight war for supremacy, with that, comes political leverage which commands some economic advantage and other benefits. What is happening in part suggests that mainstream world institutions and leadership have no confidence in Africa’s capacity to lead the world in any venture.
This posture has been reinforced for about 60 years of African countries’ independence. After these years, most African countries still struggle to meet her people’s basic needs and so clearly cast doubt as to Africa’s competence to provide leadership to the rest of the world, on any matter. Its corollary implication is the outright dismissal at first instance, of reports of African solutions, which are also chided.
But no serious attention is given these discoveries. They are not even discussed in mainstream media. One wonders if these claims are fake really, like, is it truly working?
In Senegal, doctors and scientists teamed up to develop their own testing kit which reportedly costs as little as $1. They have also invented a ventilator that costs only $60 as against foreign-made ventilators which costs around $30, 000. But no serious attention is given these discoveries. They are not even discussed in mainstream media. One wonders if these claims are fake really, like, is it truly working?
Only four years ago in 2016, there was a report that a Nigerian doctor Dayo Olakulehin invented a portable ventilator which he called the D-Box, and the ventilator cost only $300. The fit was celebrated by the Nigerian medical community and was then endorsed by the University of Lagos College of Medicine as well as the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, rather surprisingly nobody is talking about it now that Nigeria really needs ventilators. What is happening is that Africans are conveniently adapting to some Western narrative that tends to suggest that we cannot help ourselves and therefore it stands to reason that we cannot be trusted with showing the path of modern progress or solution to the rest of the world. This they do on the basis that African solutions are fictitious, nonscientific and improbable. But in itself, scientific evaluation and verification is simply a test that shows that there is a correlation between the problem and the provided solution and that the solution has a noticeable impact on resolving the problem with no evident dangerous side effects.
Since Africa have these results that some relevant institutions have certified, shouldn’t we go ahead with relying on our own methods to solving our problems, rather than just wait for solutions certified by the West and their allied institutions, which are usually unsuitable for Africa. Why can’t Nigeria invest in Dr. Dayo’s ventilator or look the way of Innoson auto company who promised to make ventilators if he can secure certain amount of loan? Why must it be an Elson Musk ventilator or a Chinese ventilator? The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has since been complaining that it is running out of testing kits. Why not order the 1$ testing kit from Senegal?
If anything, shouldn’t these results be assessed before taking a position on African solutions, rather than discard same on the supposition that a valuable answer cannot come from Africa? More importantly, are these African discoveries real?
Solutions are about results. The scientific procedure is not the endpoint of inquest for answers. It merely provides the platform for standardized approach, measurability and other observables. Now, shouldn’t the world be asking if we have results to prove that we have solutions? If anything, shouldn’t these results be assessed before taking a position on African solutions, rather than discard same on the supposition that a valuable answer cannot come from Africa? More importantly, are these African discoveries real? And why are they not being embraced by other African countries? These are some of the basic questions requiring urgent answers that are necessary for countries to take a second look at Africa, give the continent the benefit to prove her results.
In the end, the Madagascar COVID-Organics whether or not a remedy to COVID-19 is a test on Africa’s credibility. It can either strengthen the dismissive treatment to African solutions or lay the foundation for the world to trust African countries for solutions. It can build the African continent’s depleted leadership trust or further diminish Africa’s chances of providing solution to global challenges.
♦ Ebuka is a writer and columnist with WAP. His columns appear Mondays and Wednesdays
- Anambra 2025 Governorship Election Might Be an Open Contest - April 24, 2024
- Anambra Assembly Passes Bill To Prohibit Secret Cults - April 24, 2024
- 2024 Aguata NBA Law Week: AG, Prof. Ifemeje Touts Landmarks and Expectations - April 19, 2024
