Buhari Orders For Importation Of Madagascar’s COVID-19 Herbal Remedy Even As Madagascar’s President Speaks Against Criticism

By Edna Wande Last updated May 11, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to pick up COVID-Organics, Madagascar’s self-proclaimed, plant-based “remedy” for coronavirus.

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, broke the news on May 11 at the daily briefing of the task force, which he heads.

Madagascar had earlier sent the herbal to Nigeria and other African countries. MDB reported that for ease of transportation, African countries were divided into zones leading to the freighting of Nigeria’s consignments to Equatorial Guinea.

Confirimimg this, Mustapha said Madagascar donated some of the products to Nigeria through Equatorial Guinea and arrangements were being made to pick them up.

Madagascar, since the launch of the product have been giving away thousands of bottles of the product, developed by the state-run Malagasy Institute of Applied Research, to countries across Africa.

Guinea-Bissau has received more than 16,000 doses, which it is distributing to 14 other African nations, according to reports.

Mustspha stressed;

The president of Madagascar sent it to Guinea Bissau. Certain allocations have been made to different countries. We have an indication of the quantities that have been allocated to Nigeria, and we are supposed to make arrangements to freight it out of Bissau to Nigeria. I have received instructions from Mr President to make arrangements to freight it home.

He added that there is a clear instruction that the herbs be subjected to checks by relevant authorities in Nigeria.

The “remedy” is a drink derived from artemisia, a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment, and other indigenous herbs.

Also confirming the report, Health Minister Osagie Ehanire during the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19 noted that the plan is to get the herbal product and subject it to analysis to see how it works and how it is used.

The Minister said;

Concerning the question on the cure from Madagascar, this has been making the news and we have the promise of being able to get a sample of the herb/botanical product for analysis and also probably use that opportunity to speak with the health authorities particularly the scientific community on how they use it.

We will also give that to the research community with us here (in Nigeria) to examine and do what they can do with it.

In addition, Ehanire stated;

We will like to compare the sample with the strain here in our country whether they are identical or similar and see what properties it has. Things like that are normally subjected to analysis to find out how it works.

The Minister stressed that all countries are interested in finding a cure to the deadly COVID-19 and Nigeria is also looking at all options.

This comes despite warnings from the World Health Organisation (WHO) against adopting the product which according to the body has not been “taken through tests to see its efficacy”.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s head in Africa recently said;

We are concerned that touting this product as a preventive measure might then make people feel safe.

Against this backdrop, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina on Monday responded to criticisms by the WHO and other health bodies about the homegrown ‘remedy’.

He asserted that the West has a condescending attitude toward traditional African medicine, saying;

If it wasn’t Madagascar, and if it was a European country that had actually discovered this remedy, would there be so much doubt? I don’t think so.

The drink is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti-malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs.

He told French media that;

African scientists should not be underestimated. I think the problem is that (the drink) comes from Africa and they can’t admit that a country like Madagascar has come up with this formula to save the world.

Rajoelina said in response to the WHO’s concerns said;

No country or organisation will keep us from going forward.

He said proof of the tonic’s efficacy was in “the healing of our sick”.

Madagascar has officially reported 183 coronavirus infections and 105 recoveries, with no deaths and according to the President;

Patients who were cured were cured through the administration of Covid-Organics alone.

He referred to the remedy as “an improved traditional medicine”, adding that Madagascar was not conducting clinical trials but “clinical observations” in accordance with WHO guidelines.

Already Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger and Tanzania have taken delivery of consignments of the potion, which was launched last month.