WHO issues warning

The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday advised governments to clinically test a herbal drink touted by Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina as a remedy against coronavirus.

The Covid-Organics infusion is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti-malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs.

Rajoelina hopes to distribute the infusion across West Africa and beyond, claiming it cures Covid-19 patients within 10 days.

Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Niger have already received consignments of the potion. Others such as Tanzania have expressed interest.

But the WHO has repeatedly warned that there are no published scientific studies of the herbal tea and that its effects have not been tested.

“We would caution and advise countries against adopting a product that has not been taken through tests to see its efficacy,” WHO Africa Director

Matshidiso Moeti said in a press briefing yesterday, calling on Madagascar to take the drink “through a clinical trial”.

Moeti said that in 2000, African governments had committed to taking “traditional therapies” through the same clinical trials as other medication.

“I can understand the need, the drive to find something that can help,” Moeti said. “But we would like to encourage this scientific process in which the governments themselves made a commitment.”

However, eSwatini said it would not consider Rajoelina’s tonic for the time being.

“It is important as a country to first ascertain where such herbal products have been tested,” said Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi. “We have to do proper research and be sure that the product works.”

The Economic Community of West African States has debunked claims that it had ordered a package of Covid-Organics from a “third country”.