Amid widespread skepticism and criticism of Madagascar’s herbal medication, Covid-Organics (CVO), being used as a treatment for the coronavirus, President Andry Rajoelina hit back, saying, “If it weren’t Madagascar, but a European country that had discovered the remedy COVID-Organics, would there be so many doubts? I do not think so…” Rajoelina added, “We have 171 cases, including 105 cured. The patients who were cured took only the COVID-Organics medication.” The Madagascar President has claimed that “tests have been carried out — two people have now been cured by this treatment”. He has further suggested that “this herbal tea gives results in seven days”. The herbal drug is now being distributed free of cost across the country, and countries across the African continent are also placing orders en-masse for CVO.
The primary ingredient in the drug is sourced from Artemisia annua, a green leafy plant that is also known as sweet wormwood. The plant has previously been used in anti-malarial drugs. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has questioned the efficacy and safety of the herbal concoction as a ‘cure’ for the coronavirus. The WHO says that while isolated compounds extracted from artemisia have been proven to be effective in anti-malarial drugs, the plant cannot be used to treat malaria on its own.
Moreover, Rajoelina’s scathing retort and claims of a Eurocentric bias ignore the fact that this supposed cure has also been questioned by local bodies like the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Academy of Medicine of Madagascar as well.
The AU is in the process of obtaining “technical data regarding the safety and efficiency” of CVO. ECOWAS released a statement saying, “We wish to dissociate ECOWAS and its health institution, West Africa Health Organization, WAHO, from this claim and inform the general public that we have not ordered the said CVO medicine.” It further suggested that CVO has not been significantly scientifically investigated. The Africa CDC said that CVO must be “tested rigorously” and that it will study to scientific data on the safety and efficacy of the drug before commenting on whether it should be used. Meanwhile, the National Academy of Medicine of Madagascar said, “It is a drug whose scientific evidence has not yet been established, and which risks damaging the health of the population, in particular, that of children.”
In spite of these cautions, the Republic of Congo, Chad, Nigeria, Gambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Comoros, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Tanzania all placed orders for the drug. In fact, Madagascar is donating consignments of the drug to all 15 members of ECOWAS even if the organization itself has distanced itself from endorsing it.
Image Source: Radio France International (RFI)
Madagascar Endorses COVID-19 Herbal ‘Remedy’ Despite WHO, AU, ECOWAS Skepticism
Rajoelina alleges there wouldn’t be so many doubts if Covid-Organics were made in Europe.
May 13, 2020
