Coronavirus vaccines are still in the trial stages and there is no scientifically proven drug to combat COVID-19. In Madagascar however, President Andry Rajoelina believes that a locally produced herbal tonic named Covid-Organics could be a remedy.
Responding to doubts cast by the country’s National Medical Academy among others, he said, “If it was a European country that had actually discovered this remedy, would there be so much doubt? I don’t think so.”
Successful exchange with @DrTedros who commends #Madagascar’s efforts in the fight against #Covid19.@WHO will sign a confidentiality clause on the formulation of the #CovidOrganics and will support the clinical observations process in #Africa. pic.twitter.com/SCZZRDKheV
— Andry Rajoelina (@SE_Rajoelina) May 20, 2020
In Madagascar, 94 patients of out of 132 have fully recovered from #COVIDー19
Madagascar is using their own medicine #COVIDORGANICS though the world has turned a blind eye on it. pic.twitter.com/WeXRt4Lo6I— Africa News Report (@Africanreports) May 2, 2020
The so-called cure comes with a bitter aftertaste. To nullify it as well as encourage children to drink it, Education Minister Rijasoa Andriamanana came up with a plan to distribute three lollipops each to school students, reports BBC.
#CoronaVirus CHRONICLES#Antananarivo https://t.co/HihmtyQKU5
Madagascar's🇲🇬President Andry Rajoelina has Fired his Education Minister Ms.Rijaosa Andriamanana.This is after Andriamanana's Plan to buy Lollipop Sweets worth $2.2 Million (over 8 Billion #Malagasy Ariary) for pic.twitter.com/2b8A3p2b5s— Honourable Media Africa™ (@HonourableMedia) June 5, 2020
But the $2.2 million (Rs.16.7 crore) order was later cancelled with the minister getting fired over it. The residents were extremely unhappy that such a huge expenditure was being done on sweets and candies. She was relieved of her duties on June 4.
#Madagascar’s education minister was sacked after announcing a plan to buy $2.2 million worth of sweets for students to help with the bitter taste of the #Covid-Organics concoctionhttps://t.co/trHYpzryK7 pic.twitter.com/eDW3U7ixIH
— CGTN Africa (@cgtnafrica) June 5, 2020
Reports suggest that the drink is made from artemisia which is effective against malaria but its effects against COVID-19 are untested. What do you make of this lollipop incident?