Covid Organic, a concoction that is widely being circulated in Africa as the cure for the Coronavirus infection, is being supplied by the Republic of Madagascar. Various countries including Nigeria and Tanzania have received this medicine free of cost and are also trying to acquire more, despite experts warning against its credibility.
The Covid Organic was formulated by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (IMRA) for preventing and curing the novel coronavirus infection, which at present has no specific cure. This concoction is made of wormwood plant, which was once developed into the anti-malarial drug artemisinin. However, the IMRA has not made a statement on this herbal tonic’s credibility or side effects.
The World Health Organisation, however, has warned these countries against its use since it has not been scientifically tested and proven to be the cure. The UN health agency has said that there are certain compounds that were extracted from the wormwood plant for developing the anti-malarial drug and it is not wise to conclude that the plant itself can be used to treat malaria. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also agreed with WHO as the herbal drink needs scientific validation.
WHO has also added that this might lead people into believing that the cure has been found, and may lead people into engaging in “risky businesses."
