Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina officially launched a big herbal remedy on Monday, he said, capable of preventing and curing patients with the new coronavirus.
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"We have done tests, two people are now cured by this treatment," said Andry Rajoelina before ministers, ambassadors and journalists gathered at the Madagascan Institute for Applied Research (IMRA) which designed the beverage. "This herbal tea gives results in seven days," he rejoiced, taking a dose. "I will be the first to drink this today, before you, to show you that this product is cured and does not kill ," he said to skeptics who doubt the virtues of this magic potion. Called “Covid-Organics” , it is prepared from artemisia, a plant with proven efficacy in HAART, and other herbs that grow in Madagascar.
Its specific efficacy against Covid-19 has not yet been the subject of any published scientific study. The announcement of the first cases of infection caused great interest on the Big Island for a whole series of medicinal plants or products such as ginger and lemon supposed to cure or, at the very least, protect from the virus. While it recognized that some of them could "alleviate the symptoms" of the coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) recalled that there was currently "no evidence" that they can " prevent or cure the disease ”. The efficacy against Covid-19 of other antimalarials like the controversial hydroxychloroquine is being studied. WHO did not attend the launch of the “Covid-Organics” on Monday.
Andry Rajoelina swept these reservations aside by announcing that his potion would be offered to school children and by recalling that his duty was to "protect the Madagascans". "Covid-Organics will be used in prophylaxis, that is to say in preventive, but clinical observations have shown a tendency to its effectiveness in curative" , insisted Dr Charles Andrianjara, director general of IMRA. The confinement of the three main Malagasy cities began to be gradually lifted on Monday. According to the latest report, 121 cases of contamination - none fatal - were identified on the island, of which 39 considered to be cured.