Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina claims that his country has found the cure for COVID-19
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina claims that his country
has found the cure for COVID-19. President Rajoelina’s claims come at a time
when various medical bodies are working day and night to find a cure for the
devastating corona virus.
The cure which is known as Covid-Organics is a herbal remedy
that’s produced from a combination of the Artemisia plant and other Malagasy
plants. The Artemisia plant is the same plant whose ingredient is used in a
malaria treatment.
President Rajoelina made the remarks while speaking at the
launch of Covid-Organics at the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (Imra).
The president said that people need not be worried when it
comes to using Covid-Organics as tests have already been carried out to
determine the effectiveness of the herbal remedy. President Rajoelina’s remarks
were also echoed by his chief of staff Lova Hasinirina who in an interview with
the BBC said that the herbal remedy had been tested on fewer than 20 people
over a period of three weeks.
To ensure that everyone who is in need of the cure gets it
readily, President Rajoelina said that the herbal remedy is to be given free of
charge to the vulnerable.
The herbal remedy according to President Rajoelina works in
just seven days and can also be used as a preventative measure. “This herbal
tea gives results in seven days…and schoolchildren should be given this to
drink…little by little throughout the day.”
Imra’s Director General Dr Charles Andrianjara supported the
president’s sentiments saying the herbal remedy should be used for prevention.
He also weighed in saying the results of the clinical observations they did
showed “a trend towards its effectiveness as a curative remedy.”
Madagascar’s medical academy (Anamem) however was skeptical
about the effectiveness of the herbal remedy saying the remedy had the
potential to cause damage to people’s health as its “scientific evidence had
not been established.”
World Health Organization (WHO) however said that there are
no short cuts when it comes to finding cures for COVID-19. The health body said
that it does not recommend “self medication with any medicines…as a prevention
or cure for COVID-19.” WHO said international trials are still under way to
find an effective treatment.
Several health experts including Professor Brian Klaas at University
College London said President Rajoelina may put the lives of his people at risk
owing to his remarks. Professor Brian Klaas said President Rajoelina’s remarks
are dangerous for two reasons, “one is that some people will be taking it who
should not be taking it…And secondly, that it will give people a false sense of
security, so they’ll end up doing things that they would not otherwise have
done and put themselves and others at greater risk.”
Madagascar currently has 121 positive cases of COVID-19 with
zero deaths.
A few African countries including Senegal have shown
interest in Covid-Organics. The Senegalese government spokesperson Abdou Latif
Coulibaly while speaking to the country’s public broadcaster said Senegal is
ready to give the ‘miracle’ drug a try.
