Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina rejected criticism of the promotion of a local "remedy" against COVID-19 on Monday, claiming that the West has a condescending attitude towards traditional African medicine.
He also
revealed that the remedy would have been widely accepted without any doubts, if
Madagascar were to be a European country or if it was any European country that
made the discovery.
The World
Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly warned that the Covid Organics
infusion that Rajoelina has hailed as a cure for the deadly coronavirus has not
been clinically tested.
The drink
comes from Artemisia - a plant with proven malaria properties - and other local
herbs.
"African
scientists ... should not be underestimated," he reported to France 24 and
Radio France International (RFI).
"I
think the problem is that (the drink) is from Africa and they can't admit that
a country like Madagascar developed this formula to save the world,"
Rajoelina said claiming that the infusion healed patients in a space of 10
days.
Equatorial
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger and Tanzania have already received shipments of
the potion that was launched last month.
"No
country or organization will stop us from continuing," Rajoelina replied
to WHO concerns.
He said the
proof of the effectiveness of the tonic was "healing our sick".
Madagascar
has officially reported 183 coronavirus infections and 105 deathless
recoveries.
The
president also confirmed that the recovered patients were cured by
administering covid-organics alone.
He called
the remedy "improved traditional medicine" and added that Madagascar
is not conducting clinical trials but "clinical observations"
according to WHO guidelines.
0 Comments