As COVID-19 spread across Africa and leaders put their countries in lockdown, Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina last month launched a herbal remedy that he claimed could prevent and cure the disease.
This has pulled a lot of attention from medical experts in different countries in world with others like Tanzania purchasing the medicine.
Rajoelina, the current President of Madagascar, said that the “Covid-Organics’ a herbal tea gives results in seven days, while launching the medicine.
The herbal remedy is produced from artemisia, a plant with proven efficacy against malaria, and other indigenous herbs, according to the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research, which developed the beverage.
The plant was first imported into the island nation in the 1970s from China to treat malaria.
It is now marketed in bottles as a herbal tea, while Rajoelina has said clinical trials are under way in Madagascar to produce a form that can be injected into the body.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised people against using untested remedies for COVID-19.