Fact Check: Madagascar president's Covid-19 'remedy' not proven

Fact Check: Madagascar president's Covid-19 'remedy' not proven

- The coronavirus and the resulting lockdown have brought forward numerous strange claims

- President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina has taken things a step further and endorsed a local herbal remedy he insists can not only prevent but cure the virus

- Briefly.co.za explores the facts behind this dangerous notion

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Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has launched a local herbal remedy he claims can prevent and cure Covid-19.

Rajoelina claims that tests have been conducted and this alleged miracle concoction was proven to have cured two people.

The nation's leader claimed that results can be seen as fast as seven days, adamant that the alleged cure heals and not harms people, reports SowetanLIVE.

The Malagasy Institute of Applied Research explained that the drink, called Covid-Organics, is derived from a plant with proven benefits against malaria. Other indigenous herbs are also included.

However, the safety and effectiveness of this product have not been tested, nor has any proof been published to substantiate these claims, reports News24.

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Dr Charles Andrianjara, IMRA director-general, commented that the remedy has been proven effective:

"Covid-Organics will be used as prophylaxis, that is for prevention, but clinical observations have shown a trend towards its effectiveness in curative treatment."

With the nation thus far confirming 121 cases and no fatalities, the pandemic has resulted in a race to produce herbal formulas in the belief that some protection would be offered.

The World Health Organisation has warned against alleged cures, with the US Centres for Disease Control commenting:

"There is no scientific evidence that any of these alternative remedies can prevent or cure the illness caused by Covid-19. In fact, some of them may not be safe to consume."

To date, there has been no confirmed successful treatment for the coronavirus, with patients simply recovering from Covid-19, not being cured, Briefly.co.za gathered.

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Source: Briefly News

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