President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the importation of the acclaimed coronavirus remedy by Madagascar to Nigeria. Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, made this known during a briefing in Abuja recently. Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said, “Madagascar has made allocations to various countries, and sent them to Guinea Bissau. We’re supposed to make arrangements to freight Nigeria’s allocation from Guinea Bissau; it’ll be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals. “Mr President has given instructions for the airlifting of Nigeria’s allocation of the Madagascar COVID-19 Syrup; also given clear instructions that it must be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals; there will be no exceptions for this.” He assured Nigerians that the task force was intensifying efforts to stop the spread of the virus in Nigeria. “Nigeria has only one national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Where there are differing strategies is in the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. But as far as the response is concerned, there is only one national response,” he added. Some African countries such as Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, and Tanzania have taken delivery of consignments of the potion, which was launched last month. Madagascar said the drink is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti-malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs.
It will be recalled that Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina recently batted away criticism for promoting a homegrown “remedy” for COVID-19, charging that the West has a condescending attitude toward traditional African medicine. “If it wasn’t Madagascar, and if it was a European country that had actually discovered this remedy, would there be so much doubt? I don’t think so,” he told French media in an interview. The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that the COVID-Organics infusion, which Rajoelina has touted as a remedy against the deadly coronavirus, has not been clinically tested. The drink is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti-malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs. “African scientists… should not be underestimated,” he told France 24 and Radio France International (RFI). “I think the problem is that (the drink) comes from Africa and they can’t admit… that a country like Madagascar… has come up with this formula to save the world,” said Rajoelina, who claims the infusion cures patients within 10 days. Already Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger and Tanzania have taken delivery of consignments of the potion, which was launched last month. “No country or organisation will keep us from going forward,” Rajoelina said in response to the WHO’s concerns. He said proof of the tonic’s efficacy was in “the healing of our sick”. Madagascar has officially reported 183 coronavirus infections and 105 recoveries, with no deaths. “The patients who were cured were cured through the administration of COVID-Organics alone,” the president said. He referred to the remedy as “an improved traditional medicine”, adding that Madagascar was not conducting clinical trials but “clinical observations” in accordance with WHO guidelines.
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Moreover, Peter Obi, former Anambra state governor, says he supports President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision on Madagascar’s COVID-19 herbal drug, COVID-Organics. Obi expressed his support for the president’s decision in a tweet. The tweet read: “I firmly support the authorisation of @MBuhari for importation and subjection of the Madagascar #COVID19 Syrup to standard validation process for pharmaceuticals, and possibly for use in the cure of this virus. “Similar authorisation and encouragement should be given to local inventions. This will save us scarce forex and will give confidence to domestic researchers and inventors.” I firmly support the authorisation of @MBuhari for importation and subjection of the Madagascar #COVID19 Syrup to standard validation process for pharmaceuticals, and possibly for use in the cure of this virus.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) May 12, 2020
Importantly, the World Health Organisation says it met with 70 traditional medicine experts in a bid to find a cure for the coronavirus pandemic. WHO African Region made this known via its Twitter handle on Tuesday. The health organisation said an agreement was reached with the herbal medicine experts on clinical trials of their remedies. The meeting is coming days after Madagascar said it found a herbal remedy capable of curing the disease. @WHOAFRO tweeted, “70 traditional medicine experts from countries across #Africa held a virtual meeting with @WHO on the role of traditional medicine in the #COVID19 response. “They unanimously agreed that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the Region, without exception.” Earlier, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina criticised WHO and other international organisations for allegedly scorning local “remedy” for COVID-19. “If it wasn’t Madagascar, and if it was a European country that had actually discovered this remedy, would there be so much doubt? I don’t think so,” he told French media in an interview. Before the meeting, WHO had repeatedly warned that the COVID-Organics infusion, which Rajoelina has touted as a remedy against the deadly coronavirus, has not been clinically tested. But Madagascar claimed the drink is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti-malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs. Already Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, and Tanzania have taken delivery of consignments of the potion, which was launched last month. Also, Nigeria’s president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved the importation of the remedy.
While medical practitioners and scientists search for the solution to the global pandemic, Coronavirus, His Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of Ife has decided to look inward and focus on our traditional herbs. In a post shared on his official Instagram page, the Ooni said “a divine proclamation came out to the world last year June 6th, 2019, during the World Ifa Festival – Otura Meji. We foretold about the impending rage of this invisible pandemic war, but few heard us”.
According to him, the following herbs are potent enough to heal anyone down with the virus: Boundary tree leaves (Botanical name- Newbouldia laevis, Yoruba – Ewe Akoko), Neem leave and fruits or Indian lilac (Botanical – Azadirachta indica, Yoruba- ewe dogoyaro), onion (Botanical name – Allium cepa; Yoruba – Alubosa), forest anchomanes (Botanical name – Anchomanes difformis, Yoruba -Ogirisako); aridan (Botanical name – Tetrapleura tetraptera) African pepper/Ngero pepper/Guinea pepper (Botanical name – Xylopia aethiopica, Yoruba Eeru or Erinje); Bitter leaf (Botanical name – Vernonia amygdalina, Yoruba – Ewuro, Sulfur (Yoruba – Iyin Ojo).
In the video Ooni shared on both Twitter and Instagram, the narrator prescribed how the herbs can be used to “ward off negative energy” including COVID-19. Although there is no scientific proof that the herbs have or will work against coronavirus, Ooni insisted that “I have used it and also used it for some of the chronic Corona patients with testimonials.”
The Ooni went on to state that he works very closely with all the nations of the world most especially the nation of Cuba. “Centuries go by, the nation of Cuba holds dearly the tenets of our ancestors and rely on the blessings of the mystery of nature, and as a result, they have the best medical care in the world. They are the ONLY country that has come out boldly to help the world.” He also emphasized on the fact the ‘Almighty is above religion and he is moving now, the world will now respect nature WHOLLY’ and urged his followers to “remember nature does not need you, we all need nature to survive”. However, to this date, even though the president of America, Donald Trump tweeted that the combination of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin is the right medication for curing coronavirus, the medical society is still debating and putting it to the test. Hence, no actual remedy so far.
There is no doubt that the step the President has taken is a right step in the right direction; in finding a lasting and effective treatment to the treatment of the rampaging coronavirus killing multitudes around the globe, it is only commonsensical to look inwards and see clearly how our herbs and plants can be put together to solve a global health challenge. This is because in our clime we are wont to always accept things that are foreign and jettison the indigenous, but this is not the way to go; apart from getting drugs from our sister African countries, Nigeria has the capacity to develop local drugs to address this pandemic, hence, the President should be commended for initiating this process, which is the beginning of many more novels things to come.
*** Written by Jide Ayobolu.
