Madagascar’s President Claims Herbal Tonic Prevents COVID-19
As you know by now, there are no active COVID-19 cases in Belize, but fifteen are under investigation. Since the pandemic broke, a number of medications are being touted as the cure for the virus, but have not been approved for use. The African Union has stunned health experts with a report that the regional body is in discussions with the Republic of Madagascar over the efficiency of a herbal remedy for the reported prevention and treatment of COVID-19. In April, Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina announced that the herbal remedy could prevent and cure the disease. His announcement caught medical experts by surprise. The World Health Organization is advising people against using untested remedies for COVID-19. A statement reads, “Even if therapies are derived from traditional practice and natural, establishing their efficacy and safety through rigorous clinical trials is critical.” Here in Belize, Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero and his team are monitoring all developments around the world with caution.
Marvin Manzanero
Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services
“We saw the report but I think we also would need to look at what other measures Madagascar had put in place. If you go back and read the literature you would find out that they were one of the last countries to have had any case and there on the island they had they own measures that they put in place, kind of the measures that we put in place. So whenever you are reviewing measures you put in place you always have to put it in light of other contexts. Granted they have this whatever it is that they are calling that warrants it to be reviewed just like you have studies that suggest that BCG vaccines the ones used for tuberculosis might have an effect. Some states in the US now saying that they want to launch a study to see if it has any protective effect in the community. Again COVID-19 is an evolving disease. You live and learn every single so that is something we are following as we are following measures as they come about.”
