(ANSA) - BRAZZAVILLE, SEPTEMBER 20 - The World Health Organization has given its support to a protocol to test the effectiveness of African products based on medicinal herbs in the treatment of coronavirus and other epidemics.
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the possibility of using traditional medicine to fight the disease, and the WHO's green light encourages experimentation with criteria similar to those for vaccines and drugs developed in laboratories in Asia, Europe and America.
Months ago, the president of Madagascar promoted the use of a mugwort-based drink - a plain that has been found effective against malaria - as an anti-Covid medicine, but the proposal was rejected in no uncertain terms.
Today, experts from WHO and other organizations "expressed their support for a protocol for a phase 3 drug testing against Covid-19, and guidelines for the creation of a data and safety monitoring commission for trials based on medicinal herbs, "says a statement.
"If a traditional medicine product proves to be safe, effective, and quality, WHO will recommend rapid, large-scale local production," said Prosper Tumusiime, a WHO regional director.
(HANDLE).
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/SOFY3H6XYZCWXCQ5WDUPWDXBKA.jpg)
