A Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has condemned the prejudice the Madagascar Coronavirus “cure” has suffered.
Madagascar’s President launched a herbal coronavirus “cure” which has become the subject of discussion with many expressing divergent opinions about its efficacy.
The “COVID- Organic” is produced from the artemisia plant, the source of an ingredient used in malaria treatment and other Malagasy plants.
The World Health Organisation has warned against the herbal remedy.
But the North Tongu legislator, in a tweet said: “The prejudice against anything from Africa must be boldly confronted.”
The lawmaker further commended the Africa Union for reaching out to the Madagascan president on the herbal medicine.
“I highly commend the African Union for reaching out to the Madagascan President, Andry Rajoelina on the wonder coronavirus herbal medicine: COVID-Organics.”
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa further urged all Africans to rally behind Madagascar to secure full and final scientific acceptance.
The Madagascan government has subsequently donated part of the COVID-19 herbal remedy to Equatorial Guinea and the South African government is also examining same.
AU in discussions with Madagascar over herbal remedy for COVID-19
The African Union (AU) had earlier disclosed that it is in discussion with the Republic of Madagascar to obtain technical data regarding the safety and efficiency of its announced herb for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
The AU said its Commissioner for Social Affairs H.E Amira ElFadil has convened a meeting with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Madagascar, Mr. Eric Randrianantoandro at which it was agreed that the Madagascar government would furnish the African Union with necessary details regarding the herbal remedy.
“Once furnished with the details, the Union, through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), will review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 Organics. This review will be based on global technical and ethical norms to garner the necessary scientific evidence regarding the performance of the tonic,” the statement added.
Ghana can’t use Madagascar’s alleged COVID-19 cure without evidence of efficacy – FDA
Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) had earlier said it will not allow the use of a purported coronavirus cure developed in Madagascar until the efficacy of the drug is proven.
According to the FDA, there is still little scientific evidence backing the potency of the medicine to cure COVID-19.
Chief Executive Officer of FDA, Mimi Delese Darko in an interview on Citi TV‘s The Point of View programme said Ghana needs more evidence before accepting the product as COVID-19 cure.
“I know it contains the Artemisia plant which is the same thing that we have in some of the antimalarials… Yes, we’ve read about it but what we also look out for is evidence so you cannot just put a drug or a herbal product on the market without evidence and say it treats a disease. So far as we’ve seen, it was tested in about 20 people over three weeks and come out with the claim of cure. There is no published study and what we would say is that we will need more evidence,” she said.
