Republic of Congo becomes second African country to order ‘Covid-19 herbal drug’ from Madagascar
London, May 3, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Republic of Congo is the latest African country to order for Covid-Organics, the herbal drug Madagascar’s President touted as cure for coronavirus despite no proof
READ ALSO: BETTER NEWS AS NEW STUDY FOUND 10 EXISTING DRUGS THAT COULD WEAKEN CORONAVIRUS
Equatorial Guinea was the first country to acquire the herbal drug in large quantities this week.
Equatorial Guinea chartered a special aircraft to take delivery of 11,500 packages of the herbal drug for curative and preventive treatment.
A delegation led by the country’s Deputy Minister of Health, Mitoha Ondo’o Ayekaba landed at BANI Ivato on April 29, 2020 to recover the drugs.
Covid-Organics is produced from the artemisia plant – the source of an ingredient used in a malaria treatment – and other Malagasy plants.
It was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (Imra).
Congo’s information minister Thierry Moungalla confirmed on Twitter that his country is ordering for the drug and will take delivery in the coming days
#COVID19_CG Au cours d’une séance de travail par visioconférence avec les présidents malgache @SE_Rajoelina et #Embaló (Guinée Bissau) le président #Sassou_Nguesso a annoncé que le #Congo adopte le remède #Covid_Organics. Une cargaison sera récupérée et importée dans notre pays. pic.twitter.com/cCh5l8MnQH
— Thierry Moungalla (@ThMoungalla) May 2, 2020
He said the decision to turn to the herbal tonic was reached after a teleconference between presidents of Congo, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
The World Health Organization has already cautioned against the use of the drug saying there isn’t enough evidence to confirm its efficacy.
When President Andry Rajoelina launched the drug he said “Tests have been carried out – two people have now been cured by this treatment.”
“This herbal tea gives results in seven days,” said the 45-year-old president, who also urged people to use it as a preventative measure.
“Schoolchildren should be given this to drink… little by little throughout the day,” he told the diplomats and other dignitaries gathered for the launch.
Since then there has been a mad rush for the tonic among citizens. Madagascar has recorded over 100 cases of coronavirus but at least 90 people have recovered and there are no deaths yet.
