Madagascar has recorded more than 24,600 coronavirus cases, including at least 433 deaths. The spike is most likely due to the South African variant, which has caused a second wave. Madagascar’s President was against Covid vaccines and stood by a locally made herbal infusion as a cure. But after fierce criticism, the government took a U-turn and signed up to the global Covax programme.
The vaccination programme has yet to start and the government is still pushing its herbal infusion, which is based on the anti-malarial plant art Artemisia artemisia. It is sold in drink and capsule form and has been widely distributed to citizens, but experts have cautioned against the brew which has not been scientifically tested.