The Nigeria Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, disclosed that the Madagascar COVID-19 herb contains ingredients for treating malaria.
Dr Osagie Ehanire, speaking for the federal government said findings have shown that the Madagascar herb called COVID Organics is a mixture containing largely anti-malaria ingredients.
Ehanire made the disclosure at the Presidential Task Force Briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.
He said further research on the efficacy of the Madagascar COVID-19 remedy would be conducted when funds for the research is approved.
He stated that the primary plant used for the production of the Madagascar herb is grown in Nigeria.
“The so-called Madagascar herb is one component of the malaria treatment medicine. Some years ago, the government actually imported this plant and has a plantation of it in trying to develop its own production of the artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). The plantation is still there but the process has not gone that much further,” he said. “We are looking into seeing what has held it up but the plant is here; it was intended for producing anti-malarial, and the type we have here has a very high yield of artemisinin – which is actually the active ingredient.
