Madagascar minister sacked over $2m sweets for ‘bitter’ COVID-Organics

skynewsafrica Madagascar minister sacked over $2m sweets for 'bitter' COVID-Organics

MADAGASCAR

A Malagasy Minister was fired over plans to buy sweets for children taking COVID-Organics in schools.

Education minister Rijasoa Andriamanana planned to order $2.2m worth of sweets. Hoping to ease bitterness that the purported virus cure gave patrons, Sky News Africa’s news agency reported.

She had shelved the plan even before being fired. President Rajoelina – chief patron of COVID-Organics – had rejected the idea. Each student in the country was expected to get three sweets, Sky News Africa added.

The Thursday statement confirming her sacking, her counterpart in the higher education ministry, Elia Béatrice Assoumacou, was asked to double as education minister in acting capacity.

COVID-Organics at a glance

  • Rajoelina says it was developed by Malasy Institute of Applied Research.
  • Says it is of two type, the curative and preventive
  • It is made from Artemisia – an anti-malarial plant that grows on the island
  • Another name for it is Tambavy CVO
  • The WHO – global and Africa offices have cautioned against it and other unproven herbal drugs
  • It is freely distributed in schools and in other public places
  • A number of African countries officially requested for them, among others Tanzania, Congo, DRC, Chad, Comoros
  • Madagascar made a donation to West African nations in the ECOWAS bloc. But the ECOWAS Commission clarified it hadn’t ordered for or endorsed the potion.
  • Africa Centers for Disease Control is in talks with Madagascar over the potion
  • According to Rajoelina, the country will sign a confidentiality clause with WHO on the formulation of the drug.
  • A number of Africa countries are subjecting the donation to tests before administering if at all.

Total confirmed cases = 1,026
Total recoveries = 212
Total deaths = 8
Active cases = 806

Figures valid as of close of day June 6, 2020

May 29: Retreat on COVID-Organics injectables

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina’s position that the purported remedy for COVID-19 will be administered in clinical trials has been clarified by director of the country’s judicial studies department.

Rajoelina this week reiterated a clinical trial plan he announced last week saying the trial will involve administering the in its bottled form and also as injectables.

However, Michelle Sahondrarimalala, a medical doctor and director from Legal Studies at the presidency, in clarification said the president had been misunderstood.

She disclosed that there had at no point been the thought of putting artemisia in an injectable form further stressing that the scientific committee hadn’t considered this.

Reports indicate that the National Medical Academy also cast doubt on the efficacy of the artemisia-based drink, warning of its potential health implications. Doctors are on record to have said the main treatment protocol in the country was not COVID-Organics.

Total confirmed cases = 656 
Total recoveries = 154
Total deaths = 2
Active cases = 500

Figures valid as of close of day May 28, 2020

May 21: Rajoelina speaks with Tedros

President Andry Rajoelina says Madagascar will sign a confidentiality clause with the World Health Organization on the formulation of COVID-Organics, the purported cure for the coronavirus pandemic.

He disclosed this after a teleconference with WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghabreyesus on Wednesday. He also said the WHO had agreed to support the country’s clinical observation process.

“Successful exchange with Dr. Tedros who commends Madagascar’s efforts in the fight against COVID-19,” he posted on Twitter.

Confirming the call, the WHO boss tweeted: “Good call with HE Rajoelina, President of Madagascar, about the #COVID19 situation in his country.

“We discussed how to work together on therapeutics research and development. And we agreed that solidarity is key to fighting the pandemic and keeping the world safe,” he added.

Madagascar case stats as of May 21 12:00 GMT

Confirmed cases = 371
Recoveries = 131
Deaths = 2
Active cases = 238

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