Specialists from WHO and two other organizations have “approved a protocol for phase 3 clinical trials of herbal medicine for Covid-19,” WHO said in a statement issued in Brazzaville. Madagascar notably recommends a beverage based on Artemisia, a plant with a recognized therapeutic effect against malaria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Saturday that it was encouraging research in Africa on natural medicines in the face of Covid-19 and other epidemics.
Experts from WHO and two other organizations have “approved a protocol for phase 3 clinical trials of herbal medicine for Covid-19,” WHO said in a statement dated Brazzaville, its regional headquarters on the continent.
“Phase 3 clinical trials are essential to fully assess the safety and efficacy of a new medical product,” WHO said. “If a traditional medicine product proves to be safe, effective and quality assured, the World Health Organization will recommend large-scale and rapid local manufacturing,” said a WHO Africa official, Dr. Prosper Tumusiime, quoted in the statement.
“Treating traditional remedies as medicines”.
WHO’s two partners are the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the African Union Social Affairs Commission. They are grouped in a Regional Expert Committee on Traditional Medicine against Covid-19.
The epidemic has revived the debate on traditional medicine. Madagascar has delivered in several African countries batches of Covid-Organics, a beverage based on artemisia, a plant with a recognized therapeutic effect against malaria, presented by its president Andry Rajoelina as effective against Covid-19.
“Our (African) governments made a commitment in 2000 to treat traditional remedies like other medicines by testing them,” said WHO regional head Dr. Matshidiso Moeti in May. “I recommend that these resolutions … be followed,” she added. “These are difficult times, I can understand the need to find solutions, but I encourage respect for the scientific processes that our governments have committed to.
Source: Jeune Afrique
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