As African countries are confronted with economic survival challenges, poverty, and the COVID-19, Madagascan President, Andry Rajoelina last month launch an herbal remedy that he claimed could cure and prevent COVID-19.
Medical experts were caught in awe with the announcement. Coronavirus had infected over four million people across the world at present.
African countries are the most endangered species as virtually all African countries are still developing. Little or no standard medical facilities are in place to fight COVID-19. Many African countries are fighting economic catastrophe and poverty. Thus, the earlier the cure is found, the better it is for the continent.
These could be the underlining reasons the Madagascar president had a boost of an herb that can cure the coronavirus.
The developed countries are in doubt of the herb with international health organizations saying it was not yet approving the herb. However, some African leaders who are scared of the danger ahead are embracing the herb, this included Nigeria.
This had made The West African Pilot News to bring to you the controversies, source, and the African countries that had ordered the herb. At present, it is not yet confirmed if any of these countries have started using the drug or not.
Source of COVID Organic
The herb is made from Artemisia, a plant that was proven effective against malaria. According to the country’s research institute, the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research, artemisia, and other indigenous herbs are used to make the herbal remedy.
Artemisia was first imported into the Island nation in the 1970s from China to treat malaria.
The Herb is now marketed in bottles as an herbal tea to cure COVID-19. President Rajoelina also said clinical trials are ongoing in Madagascar to produce a form that can be injected into the body.
The Controversy: WHO and AU on Two Different Edges
Following the claim of the Madagascar President, the World Health Organization (WHO) had advised the world against using untested remedies for COVID-19. This was made in a statement last week Monday.
The statement reads in part, “Africans deserve to use medicines tested to the same standards as people in the rest of the world.”
“Even if therapies are derived from traditional practice and natural, establishing their efficacy and safety through rigorous clinical trials is critical.”
On the other edge, The West African Pilot News had reported on Wednesday that the African Union had said it was in discussion with Madagascar to obtain technical data regarding the efficacy of the herbal remedy.
In establishing his assurance on the effectiveness of the herb, the Madagascan President took a dose of the COVID Organic at the launch event and said it was safe for children to use.
African Countries that had Ordered the Herb
Since the launching of the herb, many African countries have ordered or placed consignments of the herb. These countries included Tanzania, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Nigeria.
The Tanzania President, John Magufuli had said he was dispatching a plane to Madagascar to collect a shipment of the herb.
During his speech, he said, “I’m communicating with Madagascar.” He added, “They have got a medicine. We will send a flight there and the medicine will be brought in the country so that Tanzanians too can benefit.”
On Monday, the Nigerian Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire confirmed that Nigeria was expecting COVID-19 Organic drug from Madagascar. He added that the drug was said to have been used by the Indian Ocean Island Country, it cured patients that were tested positive for COVID-19.
This was seconded by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force Committee and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. He said that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the airlifting of COVID Organic into the country.
Both the Minister and the SGF had confirmed that the herb will be subjected to clinical tests before being used in the country.
Madagascar Defense
The WHO had said that it had not approved the use of the drug but never said if it will subject the herb to clinical test or not.
However, the Madagascar President had slammed the UN Health Organization for not endorsing the herb in an interview with France 24, a Paris-based International Television News Network.
“If it were a European country which had discovered this remedy, would there be so many doubts?
“The problem is that it comes from Africa. And they cannot accept that a country like Madagascar, which is one of the poorest countries in the world, has discovered this formula to save the world.”
Andry Rajoelina at the launch of the herb named COVID-Organic claimed that the herb had cure two persons. He added that “This herbal tea gives results in seven days.”
