Madagascar now says there are no plans to inject artemisia in an effort to stop coronavirus
ANTANANARIVO, May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina appears to have made a U-turn regarding the much publicised purported coronavirus remedy he said his country had developed.
Last month Rajoelina officially launched a local herbal tonic which he said could prevent and cure coronavirus.
But this was disputed by the World Health Organization (WHO) because there’s no scientific proof behind the claim.
Madagascar’s National Medical Academy also cast doubt on the efficacy of the artemisia-based drink, saying it had the potential to damage people’s health.
Regardless, on Tuesday Rajoelina said Madagascar would start injections of artemisia and said clinical trials were already underway in the US.
However, Michelle Sahondrarimalala, a medical doctor and director from Madagascar’s judicial studies department, has now provided clarity on behalf of the president, saying that journalists had not understood what the head of state wanted to announce.
She said there was never any thought of putting artemisia in an injectable form and that the scientific committee hadn’t considered this.
Madagascar has reported 656 coronavirus infections and 154 recoveries to date, with two deaths. — NNN-AGENCIES
