Madagascar has recorded its first coronavirus death, two months after its index case was detected, it emerged on Sunday.
The country’s COVID-19 taskforce spokeswoman, Hanta Vololontiana, was quoted by Reuters, saying the man had died on Saturday night.
She said;
A man died from COVID-19 in Madagascar. He is 57 years old and a member of the medical staff.
This first coronavirus casualty of the East Africa country is a medical worker with underlying health condition – diabetes and high blood pressure.
Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina has been in the news since April when his country launched an indigenous herbal remedy named Covid-Organics, which he said could “cure” COVID-19.
Read Also: Madagascar President Launches Coronavirus ‘Remedy
This gained the attention of many around the world including medical practitioners and health bodies like ECOWAS, WAHO, WHO. These bodies expressed worry over the use of herbal concoction not clinical verified for use.
Also, Malagasy government in the ‘spirit of Africa’, sent Nigeria complimentary samples of the herbal tea, which arrived the nation on May 16th.
The medical consignment have since been sent to Nigeria’s food and drug certification agency, NAFDAC, for clinical tests.
Read Also: COVID-19: Buhari Receives Madagascar’s Cure, Says It Will Be Verified
According to data from an online coronavirus tracker, Worldometer, Madagascar was among of the list of countries with a clean death sheet.
However, as at Sunday afternoon, Madagascar recorded its first death. There are currently 283 confirmed cases and 114 discharged patients in the country.
