The president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for the purchase of samples of the popular Madagascar concoction for trial in the search for the cure of coronavirus.
This was disclosed on Monday by the Minister health Osagie Ehanire while briefing journalists at the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19.
The Minister noted that the plan is to get the herbal product and subject it to analysis to see how it works and how it is used.
“Concerning the question on the cure from Madagascar, this has been making the news and we have the promise of being able to get a sample of the herb/botanical product for analysis and also probably use that opportunity to speak with the health authorities particularly the scientific community on how they use it.
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“We will also give that to the research community with us here (in Nigeria) to examine and do what they can do with it.
“We will like to compare the sample with the strain here in our country whether they are identical or similar and see what properties it has. Things like that are normally subjected to analysis to find out how it works,” Ehanire said.
The Malagasy mixture called COVID-ORGANIC is made from artemisia annua, a medicinal plant which has been studied and used in Madagascar where it was introduced in 1975 by Professor Albert Rakoto Ratsimamanga to fight against malaria.
COVID-Organic although not scientifically proven as a preventive or curative mixture for the virus is gaining grounds on the continent
Some African countries such as Equatorial Guinea and Congo have started taking delivery of the herbal drug since last week.
Information minister of Congo Thierry Moungalla confirmed on Twitter last week that Congo has ordered for the organic remedy
