On Saturday, Tanzanian President John Magufuli announced that his country will begin importing an untested COVID-19 cure from Madagascar. The miracle remedy is a herbal tonic known as COVID Organics. Its key ingredient is theArtemisia plant, which is commonly used to treat malaria. Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina officially endorsed COVID Organics in April, and Tanzania is one of several countries to express their interest in acquiring it. Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Congo and Senegal have all looked to secure their own imports of the cure.

Madagascan authorities have remained firm in their support of COVID Organics. Rajoelina has claimed that the treatment eliminates the virus in a week. He has even suggested that schoolchildren should drink it as a precautionary measure. President Magufulisown belief in the product is also clear. After all, he has been working day and night to bring the medicine to Tanzania. However, scientists have been extreme sceptical of COVID Organics. For instance, Madagascars national medical academy (Anamem) has said there is no scientific evidence that the treatment actually works. International organisations have also roundly condemned the use of herbal remedies to treat COVID-19. In response to questions posed by the BBC, the World Health Organisation (WHO) sternly warned against self-medication with any medicines. The US-based National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health released a similar statement decrying herbal remedies earlier in the year.

The adoption of COVID Organics is only the latest development in the Tanzanian governments controversial response to the coronavirus pandemic. The country is the worst hit nation in East Africa, with 480 reported cases of COVID-19 as of last Wednesday. Three Tanzanian MPs also recently died from potential infections in the span of 11 days. However, while the Tanzanian government has banned public gatherings and closed schools and universities, it has refused to introduce social isolation measures. Markets and churches have also remained open. In fact, Magufuli has even encouraged citizens to gather in places of worship since the disease cannot harm the faithful. In another twist, last week the President blamed imperialist sabotage for faults in imported COVID-19 testing kits. According to Magufuli, the government recently sent swabs from goats and pawpaws disguised as human samples for testing. Some of the results allegedly came back positive, which led Magufuli to suggest that Tanzanias COVID-19 data is unreliable. The President subsequently ordered an investigation into whether any internationalfoul play was responsible.

The Tanzanian government policies make the widespread use of an untested medicine a deeply worrying prospect. The remedy has the potential to lull citizens into a false sense of security. It could discourage citizens that display symptoms of COVID-19 from seeking medical attention or make them believe they have been cured. The official denunciation of testing kits might also lead those who are self-medicating with COVID Organics but test positive for virus to reject their diagnosis. These problems are compounded by the lack of restriction on movement and certain public gatherings.There will be little to stop infected citizens that believe they are immune or cured from spreading coronavirus amongst their community. The irresponsible actions of Magufulis administration could therefore create a perfect storm for a major COVID-19 outbreak.

It is little wonder that the Tanzanian government has been widely condemned at home and abroad. On April 30th the WHO expressed fear over Tanzanias lack of physical distancing. Their trepidation is entirely justified. The characterisation of the governments handling of the virus by Freeman Mbowe, the chairman of Tanzanias main opposition party Chadema, as incompetent and secretive also seem fair. These dissenting voices must now highlight the dangers of Magufulis support of COVID Organics. We can only hope that this miracle cure doesnt turn into a nightmare.

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Introduction of Miracle COVID-19 Cure to Tanzania Could End in Catastrophe - The Organization for World Peace