Mbabane: Eswatini is working on transporting the COVID Organics from Madagascar in a move to contain the rapidly spreading COVID-19, and logistics are expected to start next week.
Covid-Organics (CVO) is an Artemisia based drink that Andry Rajoelina , president of Madagascar, claims could prevent and cure coronavirus. The herbal drink, which some consider a remedy, is produced from a species under the Artemisinin from which Artemisinin is extracted for malaria treatment.
Covid-Organics was developed and produced in Madagascar by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research and Madagascar was the first country to agree to integrate Artemisia into COVID-19 treatment when the NGO Maison de l’Artemisia France contacted numerous African countries after the outbreak of the pandemic.
Locally, Artemisia plant is known as Umhlonyane. In spite of not being officially approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), Madagascar has continued to use it and other countries including Tanzania is using it as a remedy for the coronavirus.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Thuli Dladla told Independent News that Eswatini Government is going to fetch the COVID-Organics from Madagascar since Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina wrote to all African countries to come and fetch the consignment of the concoction.
Dladla said since Madagascar is a little bit far from Eswatini and air transport is still limited, government has resolved to hire DHL logistic to go and fetch the ‘remedy’ from the Indian Ocean Island. Dladla further disclosed that Eswatini Government wrote a diplomatic note to Madagascar government regarding the COVID-Organics and fortunately the counterpart Foreign Affairs Minister responded promptly, allowing Eswatini to come over to collect the so-called remedy.
The minister said once the consignment is delivered, her ministry will go and deliver it to His Majesty King Mswati III as it is from the Madagascan President hence, it will be mandatory to deliver it to the King before it can be dispatched to the Ministry of Health and conduct necessary tests before using it to treat emaSwati.
In an interview with the Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi said they were waiting for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to go and collect the consignment and once it is delivered, they will take over. She added that a local university has offered to conduct all necessary tests.
As of June 13, Madagascar has recorded 1 252 cases, 10 deaths and 362 recoveries, whereas Eswatini has recorded 472 cases, 3 deaths and 246 recoveries.
