W.H.O CONSULTING ON 'COVID-19 ORGANICS'

Geneva, SWITZERLAND

The World Health Organization (WHO) regional experts, yesterday held a virtual meeting with 70 African traditional medicine experts concerning the treatment of coronavirus.

In a tweet, the WHO's Regional Office for Africa said its meeting with experts across Africa focused on the role of traditional medicine in the COVID-19 response.

The number of coronavirus cases in the African continent reached 66,373 with 3,048 new infections over the past 24 hours, on the basis of figures released by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.

''They unanimously agreed that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the region, without exception,'' the UN agency said, with no further details.

The meeting announcement came a day after Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina slammed the UN agency for not endorsing Covid Organics (CVO), an organic herbal drink that the Malagasy authorities says it can prevent infections and cure patients suffering from the novel coronavirus.

WHO warned against the use of CVO without medical supervision and also cautioned against self-medication. It further called for clinical trials of Covid Organics.

"We are advising the government of Madagascar to take this product through a clinical trial and we are prepared to collaborate with them," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, last week.

After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to 187 countries and regions, with Europe and the US currently the worst-hit regions.

The pandemic has killed over 286,600 people worldwide, with total infections reaching more than 4.19m at present, while recoveries exceeded 1.46 million, according to figures compiled by the US Johns Hopkins University.