With Covid-19 cases now over 10 000 in the country, South African government has raised its hand in helping Madagascar in their quest to scientifically test what it calls its medical remedy.
Health minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize confirmed on Sunday evening that Covid-19 positive cases in the country were 10 015 with 194 deaths and over 4 000 recoveries.
Gauteng had recorded 1 952 positive cases, 22 deaths and 1 247 recoveries, while the Western Cape remained the epicenter of the virus in the country, with 5 168 positive cases, 98 people having lost their lives, while 1 607 had recovered.
Following the launch of the contentious herbal remedy for the virus in Madagascar last month, Mkhize said despite warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO) that the remedy is yet to be proven to cure the virus, government will honour the call made by the Madagascar government to help them with scientific research to determine whether the herb does indeed help to prevent Covid-19.
“We actually did get a call from the government of Madagascar. They did ask us that they would like to be assisted in the process of trying to validate and try and help to investigate the scientific basis on which such a drug could be used.
“I had a call with the Foreign Affairs of Madagascar and there had been a call from the President, and we then said our scientific research institutions will be willing to support an analysis on that matter,” adds Mkhize.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Tanzania are among the countries that have ordered the remedy that Madagascar believes could be the answer to the global pandemic. The controversial remedy is made of the artemisia plant that is otherwise known as ‘umhlonyane’ or ‘lengana' in South Africa.
WHO says before this remedy can be declared Covid-19 treatment they first need to scientifically test its effectiveness and its side effects. WHO's regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti confirmed that they have urged Madagascar’s government to first conduct clinical trials of the alleged cure.
“We are advising the government of Madagascar to take this product through a clinical trial and we are prepared to collaborate with them, Moeti told a joint media briefing with WHO and World Economic Forum.
“We would caution and advise countries against adopting a product that has not been through clinical tests for safety and efficacy. We are concerned about the impact that Covid-19 will have on the ability of African countries to progress towards Universal health coverage,” says Moeti.
The Johannesburg-born Medical Administrator also says that they are looking to preposition readiness capacities even in areas where there has been small numbers of reported cases.
“… Working with countries to leverage the assets they have in place already, built in preparedness for Ebola and HIV, TB and polio programme among others, as well as to scale-up coordination, mobilize people and repair supply chains globally and locally.
"It’s not a matter of simply today we have lockdowns and tomorrow everything is opened up. It has to be gradual with the most essential parts of the economy being opened up first,” added Moeti.
Cover image: bbc.com
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