The African Union has said that it is in discussion with the Republic of Madagascar, over its herbal remedy for the coronavirus.
The AU says it wants to obtain “technical data regarding the safety and efficiency of a herbal remedy” which was recently announced by Madagascar and touted to be effective in preventing and treating COVID19.
In a statement the AU said its Commissioner for Social Affairs Amira ElFadil convened a meeting with a representative from Madagascar on 30th April on the issue.
At the said meeting it was agreed that Madagascar “would furnish the African Union with necessary details regarding the herbal remedy.”
Madagascar has already been donating the herbal drug to various African countries. The Covid-Organics was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (Imra).
The herbal remedy was produced from artemisia plant, an ingredient used in a malaria treatment and other Malagasy plants.
According to the African Union, “once furnished with the details” it would through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), “review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 Organics.
This review will be based on global technical and ethical norms to garner the necessary scientific evidence regarding the performance of the tonic.”
The World Health Organization had earlier cautioned against the use of the remedy saying there is no evidence of its efficacy.
But the President Andry Rajoelina said his country was also pursuing a validation of the Covid-Organics by the World Heath Organization (WHO).
He also asked local farmers to increase production of the herbal plant as he announced the start of clinical trials for a vaccine.
The vaccine will be produced from the artemisia plant which has been the source of the Covid-Organics tonic.
Madagascar begins clinical trials for ‘Covid-19 vaccine’ from herbal plant
Source: Africafeeds.com
