The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its health Institution, West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) have refuted their alleged endorsement of Madagascar’s herbal cure for coronavirus.
In a press release, the ECOWAS Commission and its health Institution denied claims that they had “ordered a package of COVID Organics (CVO) medicine from a third country.”
The statement reads;
Our attention has been drawn to a story making the headlines that claims ECOWAS has ordered a package of Covid Organics (CVO) medicine from a third country.
We wish to dissociate ECOWAS and its health Institution, West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), from this claim and to inform the general public that we have not ordered the said CVO medication.
As part of its mandate to safeguard and improve the health of the region’s population, WAHO remains committed to promoting rational traditional medicine practices and products in the ECOWAS region, and over the years has worked consistently with the Member States to scientifically investigate plant medicines of proven efficacy.
These products are documented in our ECOWAS Pharmacopoeia of Traditional Medicines, the second edition of which will be published in the next few weeks. WAHO has also in the recent past identified, nurtured and supported centers of excellence in traditional medicine across the ECOWAS region.
We are aware that several claims of a Covid-19 cure have been made in different parts of the world, but we can only support and endorse products that have been shown to be effective through scientific study. For this reason, WAHO is collaborating with relevant partners including WHO, Africa CDC, national, regional and international research consortia to promote the scientific search for a cure.
We are working with Member States on some of the medications available for clinical trials and for use on a compassionate basis in selected severe cases. Some of the traditional medicine centers of excellence in the ECOWAS region are also currently investigating products of potential efficacy.
ECOWAS Commission and WAHO will continue to focus on delivering on the decisions made by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at their recent Extraordinary Summit on the fight against Covid-19, one of which is to strengthen cooperation among Member States in research, training and experience sharing in health matters in general, and in the fight against Covid-19 in particular.
The statement comes weeks after Madagascar president Andry Rajoelina unveiled the herbal remedy called “Covid Organics” or CVO, which he said can prevent and also cure the novel Coronavirus in seven days.
During the launch of the herbal tea, Rajoelina told ministers, diplomats, and journalists that;
Tests have been carried out – two people have now been cured by this treatment. This herbal tea gives results in seven days.
Downing a dose of the drink, he added;
I will be the first to drink this today, in front of you, to show you that this product cures and does not kill.
Since the outbreak of Coronavirus in Madagascar, 135 cases have been recorded with zero deaths and 97 recoveries so far.
