TWO Madagascan lawmakers have died over the last week after becoming infected with coronavirus while a further 25 have tested positive for the virus casting doubts over the efficacy of the Covid Organics herbal remedy.
Following the outbreak of the pandemic, Madagascar claimed that its Covid Organics served both as a vaccine and a cure for the virus. However, the herbal remedy has not been subjected to any clinical trials, so the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been unable to accept it, prompting the Madagascan government to pull out of the global health body.
After a lot of political jockeying, WHO finally agreed to subject the herbal remedy to clinical trials but so far, the process is yet to be concluded. Despite assurances from Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina that the remedy works, he announced yesterday that one member of the country’s senate and one deputy had died after becoming infected with coronavirus.
Also, 11 other deputies and 14 senators had also tested positive for the virus. As a result of this renewed outbreak,. Madagascar had on July 5 placed its capital Antananarivo under a fresh lockdown following a new surge in infections, two months after the restrictions were eased.
Madagascar has recorded 2,573 infections including 35 deaths with the government estimating that the peak will not be reached until the end of August. In April, President Rajoelina launched the local herbal concoction Covid Organics, which he claimed prevents and cures the novel coronavirus.
