SA to help Madagascar find out if indigenous plant can fight Covid-19

The government says it will help Madagascar with research into whether an indigenous plant can “cure” Covid-19.

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday that the country received a request from the government of Madagascar and that it was willing to help.

“We actually did get a call from the government of Madagascar. They asked us to help investigate the scientific basis on which such a drug could be used,” Mkhize said.

The herb in question is African Wormwood (Artemisia Asteracae), known for clearing the respiratory tract. This is a popular herb used locally and called Umhlonyane.

The request was made by the country's foreign affairs minister, Mkhize said.

“And there had been a call from the president and we then said our scientific research institutions will be willing to support an analysis on that matter,” Mkhize said.