COVID-19: ECOWAS Denies Endorsing Madagascar Herbal Remedy

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has refuted the claim that it has endorsed the Covid-19 herbal medicine from Madagascar.

“Our attention has been drawn to a story making the headlines that claims ECOWAS has ordered a package of Covid Organics (CVO) medicine from a third country.

“We wish to dissociate ECOWAS and its health Institution, West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), from this claim and to inform the general public that we have not ordered the said CVO medication,” ECOWAS in a press release.

Recall that the president of Madagascar(Eastern Africa), Andry Rajoelina, had launched a Covid-Organics (CVO), a mixture gotten from the artemisia plant, claiming that it could prevent and cure Covid-19.

But ECOWAS said that though it encouraged local contents, such would have to undergo scientific investigations to prove its efficacy; for the sake and health of the region’s population.

“We are aware that several claims of a Covid-19 cure have been made in different parts of the world, but we can only support and endorse products that have been shown to be effective through scientific study.”

According to the statement, collaborations between ECOWAS, World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC, national, regional and international research consortia and other relevant agencies were ongoing to arrive at a Covid-19 cure.

ECOWAS also said that some medications were passing through clinical trials and “some of the traditional medicine centers of excellence in the ECOWAS region are also currently investigating products of potential efficacy.”

The statement further reads:

“These products are documented in our ECOWAS Pharmacopoeia of Traditional Medicines, the second edition of which will be published in the next few weeks.

“WAHO has also in the recent past identified, nurtured and supported centers of excellence in traditional medicine across the ECOWAS region.

“ECOWAS Commission and WAHO will continue to focus on delivering on the decisions made by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at their recent Extraordinary Summit on the fight against Covid-19, one of which is to strengthen cooperation among Member States in research, training and experience sharing in health matters in general, and in the fight against Covid-19 in particular.

“As part of its mandate to safeguard and improve the health of the region’s population, WAHO remains committed to promoting rational traditional medicine practices and products in the ECOWAS region, and over the years has worked consistently with the Member States to scientifically investigate plant medicines of proven efficacy.”