Let me be clear: I am not against native medicine. As I noted in my book – Africa’s Sankofa Innovation – my village of Ovim continues to struggle since the only woman that knows the right herbs to cure poisonous snake bites died. Her son was my secondary school classmate. He left for the city, and his siblings followed. The woman died with her knowledge – and today snake bites kill, unlike when she was alive. While the general hospital remains, people know no one who can match her talent. I can add the orthopedic woman which fixes minor bone fractures. She was useful during those football accidents. That woman has gone with her skills, and a massive succession void remains. These samples are typical across Africa.
Now, we have read of how Madagascar invented a solution to deal with Covid-19. I have not commented on it out of caution that some people will get confused and import all available stocks to “hit it” – you know what I mean. The fact is this: the world needs to give the drug a chance through scientific processes. On that, I agree with President Buhari on getting the drug, and then sending samples to our labs to verify the potency and efficiency.
“We have our institutions, systems and processes in the country. Any such formulations should be sent to them for verification. I will not put it to use without the endorsement of our institutions,” said the Nigerian President.
May the best drug WIN, in Africa, U.S, EU, Asia or anywhere.
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Press release from Aso Rock
President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday at the State House, Abuja, received the Madagascan native formulation against the Covid-19 pandemic, and reiterated that he will listen to science before allowing traditional or any new medicines to be administered on Nigerians.
At an audience meeting with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau who brought along with him the samples of the traditional medicine as shared to African nations by Madagascar, President Buhari said his position on all such herbal or traditional medicinal postulates had remained the same.
“We have our institutions, systems and processes in the country. Any such formulations should be sent to them for verification. I will not put it to use without the endorsement of our institutions,” said the Nigerian President.
On the main reason for his visit, President Embalo said having stabilized his country after the tussles that attended the general elections won by him, he had come to seek counsel from his “father,” President Buhari on his plan for a “government of national unity” and a proposed war against corruption in his country.
He also said that his new government met a country beset with a number of issues and problems, the resolution of which would require tremendous assistance from the “big brother,” Nigeria.
“Problems of Guinea Bissau are problems of Nigeria. I have come to you as your son. I need your help and assistance to make the people happy. I will not let you down, neither will I put you in any difficult situation,” the visiting leader told President Buhari.
In response to these demands, the Nigerian leader commended “General“ Embalo on his confirmation as President and for stabilizing the country. “I commend your political dexterity in getting the opposition to join the proposed unity government,” he said.
President Buhari restated the determination of Nigeria to keep West Africa politically stable and promised to support the new government in Guinea Bissau. “I will cooperate and help in every way possible,” assured the Nigerian President.
President Buhari also used the opportunity of the visit to praise the good work that the President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou, who is the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is doing in the sub-region, and commended him for keeping him informed of all that is happening around.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
May 16, 2020
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Just like Blais Pascal argued during his time, when the debate about the existence of God was raging, he put in this way: what if you don’t believe that God exists, only for you to die and it’s true that he exists? And if you believe that God exists, only for to die and discover that it’s not true, on the latter, did you really lose anything?
So, I ask anyone doubting the efficacy of our Madagascar Syrup, what do you stand to lose? If it works so well, great! And if it doesn’t work as anticipated or hyped, does it make any difference? We have waited for five months, yet no one, I repeat, no one has got a clue on neither effective drug nor vaccine for Covid-19, and yet someone in any corner of the world really thinks he/she has the moral right to lecture the rest of us on what is effective or not?
As for me, I just hope this Syrup works so well, we do not need to over analyse or over validate it, but just to give it its due chance; it doesn’t need to reach 90%, all it needs is show that it could work, our head masters can keep ranting on the side, we are not interested.
Something good came out of Nazareth, so no panic, if it’s Africa’s turn to shock the world, worrying won’t stop it; just be humble and accept that we did it!
Nice commentary.
You have written well. However, the effect of this Covid 19 has almost ripped us off both as a country or the world and as such, we can’t afford to wait for much longer. I don’t fancy the idea of testing for months again the efficacy of the Madagascan drug. Since it’s been touted to work and our pharmacognosists have confirmed the potency of the materials used to manufacture the drug, I would suggest a cautious use of the drug as a way of study and if it turns out to be as claimed, then let’s get the drug in commercial quantity and be done with this COVID 19 for good.
Sure – we do not need to over-test but we also need to test to be sure we are in order