This archive report was first published on 27 July 2020.
Published on July 27, 2020, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar launched a traditional remedy called Covid Organics (CVO) in late April 2020, claiming it could prevent and cure the novel coronavirus.
Despite warnings from the World Health Organisation, Africa CDC, and other medical research centres, Rajoelina urged citizens to drink the herbal beverage, saying 'Drink this herbal tea to protect yourselves, to protect your families and your neighbours, there will be no more deaths.'
However, the Health minister Ahmad Ahmad wrote a letter to international agencies appealing for help, citing a surge in COVID-19 cases and a lack of medical supplies, including oxygen bottles, ventilators, face masks, gloves, and medical blouses.
As cases continued to rise, Rajoelina appeared to change his stance, launching a digital platform called CovData to consolidate medical data and inaugurating a treatment centre with 250 beds for severe cases.
The Indian Ocean island nation has recorded 8,866 cases, 5,579 recoveries, and 78 corona-related deaths, prompting the government to impose stringent measures, including lockdowns in various regions.
