JUST IN: FG Says Madagascar Herbal Useless Against COVID-19, Reveals Only Importance

The Federal Government has stated that the Madagascar herbal remedy was ineffective against coronavirus (COVID-19).

Speaking to newsmen on Thursday, Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said the herbal remedy can only cure cough.

He said following preliminary results of the analysis carried out the Madagascar herbal product did not show any curative powers for COVID-19.

Dr. Ehanire also stated that the herbal remedy is the same as the plant Artemisia anua, grown in Abuja by the Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical research and development (NIPRID) for research purposes.

The Minister said the Madagascar herbal remedy was subjected to further tests to verify its efficacy.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that the drug must be verified before use after receiving the COVID Organics from Guinea-Bissau in May 2020.

The drug was launched on April 20, with its main ingredient being sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), a plant of Asian origin from where the antimalarial drug, artemisinin, came.

Nigeria received five cartons of samples of the herbal tea in May before they were handed over to the Ministry of Health.

Naija News reports that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC on Wednesday, July 22 reported five hundred and forty-three confirmed new cases of Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

According to the health agency in a report on its official website, 8 COVID-19 related deaths were recorded in Nigeria on Wednesday.

The development brings the overall COVID-19 related death in the country to 813, while 15815 people have been discharged of the dreaded virus.

As at the time this report is given, overall confirmed cases of the novel virus in Nigeria since its emergence is now 38344.