Tanzania received their first shipment of Madagascar’s herbal drink that they claim “cures” COVID-19. The World Health Organization has openly advised warnings against using this drink, because it has not been proven to actually cure or prevent COVID-19 by a reliable source. Madagascar calls this drink “Covid-Organic” which is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment – and other indigenous herbs. A few African countries have placed orders for Covid-Organic. The Madagascar president was seen with a branded bottle of the drink and claimed that it had cured two cases. Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau have already received thousands of doses of Covid-Organics free of charge. The WHO on the other hand, has warned against “adopting a product that has not been taken through tests to see its efficiency.”
The selling of these drinks seems premature. Without proper testing, this drink could end up being just a hoax used to gain revenue for Madagascar, which is currently going through a food crisis and would therefore have a motive to obtain money. Regionally, if this remedy turns out to be useful, Madagascars importance and significance in the area could increase. However, if Covid-Organic is proven faulty by the World Health Organization, the other African countries could start to mistrust the government of Madagascar which could affect future relations. Personally, I believe that the drink could indeed benefit health, but I do not think that it can cure COVID-19.
Madagascar is attempting to increase their relations and importance within their region. Sub-Saharan Africa has plentiful complex interdependence. They have many factors and cultures that overlap, therefore strengthening their alliances to one another. The fact that so many African Countries have chosen to receive Madagascar’s Covid-Organic proves their ties and trust in Madagascar and each other. It would be very hard for these countries to go to war with one another, due to this strong similarity in culture and many connections through trade markets and political stances.