World Health Organization Rejects Madagascar’s Cure For Covid-19
On the 22nd of April, Madagascar’s president Andry Ranjoelina approved the use of its newly found herbal cure for covid-19. This cure is called and is made of Artemisia developed by the Malagasy Institute For Applied Research And Covid Organics. It is said to have tested it on about twenty persons, with two recovering fully.
Since then, Some African Presidents have been in contact with Madagascar trying to make plans to get the herbal medicine to their people. It is a ray of hope to the entire continent which has battled with uncertainties since the beginning of this pandemic. The World Health Organization, however, had something else to say.
Where is Madagascar?
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) off the coast of East Africa. At 592,800 square kilometers. Madagascar is the world’s 2nd largest island country. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth- largest island in the world) and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from the Indian subcontinent around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island’s diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population and other environmental threats.
Source: Wikipedia
Image Source: Twitter.com
African Facts Zone Tweeted today “Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has offered to transport their Coronavirus medicine to hospitals across Africa during an online meeting with 9 other African Presidents, Ramaphosa, Kagame, Kenyatta, Bongo, Déby, Tshisekedi, El Sisi, Kata & Issoufou.”
These are the presidents of South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, Gabon, Chad, Republic of The Congo, Egypt, Niger respectively. Tanzania’s president has also promised to import the Madagascar cure.
Image Source: Twitter.com
Is WHO’s Rejection Of The Madagascar Cure An Example Of White Supremacy?
White supremacy is the ugly belief that white people are superior to non-white people and should, therefore, lord over them. This doctrine and belief are disgusting and have (unfortunately) seeped into the bones of both racist White people and a dwindling majority of Black people. The WHO is the go-to when it comes to health matters in the world but recently, they have become quite unreliable.
Let me point out some things here.
- “In March, the US-based National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warned against purported coronavirus remedies, including herbal therapies and teas – saying the best way to prevent infection was to avoid exposure to the virus.” BBC
What is wrong with herbal therapies? In Africa, herbs have been used effectively for thousands of years, before colonization and even now. I might not know what I am saying, but I know that herbs such as ginger and garlic are still in use now to boost the immune system of Africans until it is strong enough to fight against the Covid-19 disease.
2. Professor Brian Klaas, an expert on Madagascar at University College London, said Mr. Rajoelina’s stance could cause Malagasy citizens more harm than good.
“It’s dangerous for two reasons – one is that some people will be taking it who should not be taking it,” he told BBC Newsday.
“And secondly that it will give people a false sense of security, so they’ll end up doing things that they would not otherwise have done and put themselves and others at greater risk.”
I’ve got some problems with the above statements and I highlighted them. The first one is an “expert” in Madagascar. What? Madagascar is not just a place on the map for “explorers” to study as they seem fit. It is a country full of people who would otherwise die if they don’t take their own lives into their hands.
Secondly, the false sense of security statement is just confusing. China with its thousands of cases started to witness some sort of breakthrough and they sent everyone back outside and no one said anything about it. The USA is set to reopen its economy even though they are yet to find “a solution to the virus”. Why then are we talking about Madagascar with just one hundred and twenty-six cases, ninety-seven recoveries, and no deaths? Thanks for caring though. Bless your heart.
On social media, the WHO has however given these statements:
“We will only halt COVID-19 through solidarity,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Countries, health partners, manufacturers, and the private sector must act together and ensure that the fruits of science and research can benefit everybody.”
“Our shared commitment is to ensure all people have access to all the tools to prevent, detect, treat and defeat COVID-19,” said Dr. Tedros. “No country and no organization can do this alone. The Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator brings together the combined power of several organizations to work with speed and scale.”
Image Source: Twitter.com
Why We Should Give The Madagascar Cure A Try
There are a few yet solid reasons why we should give the Madagascar cure a try. They might be a bit sentimental but there’s also logic and besides doesn’t it make you sentimental that thousands of people have died of Covid-19?
It Is Herbal
Herbal drugs and remedies are made from natural herbs, in contrast to the chemicals put together to form over the counter medicines. These natural remedies have been used for thousands of years with success. It also has fewer side effects than OTC medication while costing a lot less.
It Is African
Although everything African is always looked at with some kind of disdain, the western world cannot ignore the contribution of Black doctors and inventors to the advancement of technology. There might be a hush-hush about it and a visible effort to downplay our achievements and blow our weaknesses out of proportion but our fighting spirit and intrinsic motivation to excel can not be denied.
The plague of Neocolonialism that seems to be affecting many Africans will be the only barrier against wholehearted acceptance of this cure. Think about it, even though the (possibly dangerous) vaccine gets into our countries, we will still have to take it and see if it works. While making a decision, let us not forget that such vaccines have made women infertile and thousands of children paralyzed when used in certain countries.
It Works!
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