Niger on Tuesday received a consignment of herbal tea that Madagascar ’ s president Andry Rajoelina has touted as a powerful remedy against the novel coronavirus .
Baptised COVID -Organics , the drink is derived from artemisia — a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment – and other indigenous herbs .
Rajoelina hopes to distribute the infusion across West Africa and beyond. Madagascar claims it cures COVID - 19 patients within 10 days .
The World Health Organisation has said that the herbal tea’ s effects had not been tested, and there are no published scientific studies of the potion.
“ Ismagail Annar , the chief of staff in the health ministry , received a batch of the products offered by Madagascar for free , ” Souley Zaberou, a health ministry official told AFP.
The consignment contains sachets to “ treat 900 people : 300 for those already sick and for 600 others as a preventive measure, ” Zaberou said .
Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea have already taken delivery of the infusion .
There have been 755 cases of the new coronavirus in Niger state,one of the world ’ s poorest countries, and 37 deaths , according to the latest figures . The dead include Labour Minister Mohamed Ben Omar .
Niger has imposed a health emergency, closed its borders, places of worship and schools and isolated the capital Niamey from the rest of the country .