Coronavirus: African Union presses Madagascar on efficacy of Covid-Organics ‘tonic’
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- Drink, derived from sweet wormwood and other plants used in treatment of malaria, will be reviewed in accordance with internationally recognised technical and ethical norms, AU says
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs Amira El Fadil held a meeting with the chargé d’affaires of Madagascar’s embassy in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on April 30, at which it was agreed that more information would be provided about the concoction, known as Covid-Organics.
“Once furnished with the details … the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of Covid-Organics,” the statement said.
The review would be conducted in accordance with internationally recognised technical and ethical norms, it said.
On Thursday, the World Health Organisation’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, echoed those remarks, saying the UN agency was “advising the government of Madagascar to take this product through a clinical trial” but was “willing to collaborate with them”.
“We would caution and advise countries against adopting a product that has not been through clinical tests for safety and efficacy,” she said.
