Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina launches Covid-Organics in Antananarivo on 20 April 2020. © AFP - Rijasolo
The herbal drug has been said to cure and prevent one from the deadly disease, and has been distributed to Nigeria and other African countries.
To ease the transportation of the drugs, African countries were divided into zones and Nigeria’s consignment has been sent to Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja.
While the World Health Organisation (WHO) said last week that the efficacy of the drug was unproven, a lot of medical and scientific organizations have also asked the federal government to allow relevant bodies examine the drug.
Similarly, the African Union (AU), has also asked Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID Organics.
Recall that the Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, on April 28, said the nation was ready to give Madagascar’s herbal drink a trial.
He said: “I want to assure you that whatever is happening in the world, we are mindful of it and we are keeping a tab.
“I was reading of the experiences in Madagascar– of why everybody is drinking some solutions that have been prepared. This morning I was sharing with my wife, and I told her that probably I would request that Mr. President allow us import a plane load for a trial.
“We are all navigating an uncharted cause. Nobody has ever been on this road. So, every attempt to find solution that would bring succour to our people, be rest assured that this task force is very responsible and we would do everything to ensure that we get what will benefit our people, what will help them in the processes that we find ourselves today.”
reports that as of Sunday, May 10 Nigeria has recorded a total of 4,399 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 248 new cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Lagos recorded 81 cases, followed by Jigawa State 35 and Borno 26 cases to top the chart. Kano recorded 26 cases, followed by Bauchi with 20 cases.
The West African country has only treated and discharged 778 cases while it has recorded 143 deaths.
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