Jubilee Post News & Views
Special Desk
Lollipops were meant to sweeten the taste for kids, but the sweetener actually took away chair of Madagascar’s education minister.
Madagascar’s education minister was fired over plans to order more than $2m (£1.6m) worth of sweets for schoolchildren. Minister Rijasoa Andriamanana said last week she was ordering sweets to go with the Covid-Organics concoction, which some experts have warned is useless against COVID-19.
She told the press that “a purchase of sweets and lollipops” had been made, with all students in the Indian Ocean island nation to receive three each. She added that it was for the “bitter taste” of the drink, which President Andry Rajoelina has been promoting for export, saying it is the country´s “green gold” which will “change history”.
The potential benefits of Covid-Organics, have not been validated by any scientific study. That such expense was going to sweets in one of the world´s poorest country´s sparked outrage, fanned by the Malagasy press, and the order was cancelled. The plan was called off after objections from Madagascar’s president.
Several African countries continue to import Covid-Organics believing it will help combat the virus, but the World Health Organization has warned that no proven cure exists. Madagascar’s National Medical Academy has also cast doubt on the efficacy of the artemisia-based drink, saying it had the potential to damage people’s health.
Rajoelina has dismissed criticism of the tonic, saying it is evidence of the West’s condescending attitude towards Africa. “If it was a European country that had actually discovered this remedy, would there be so much doubt? I don’t think so,” he told a news channel. Nearly 1,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the country, along with seven virus-related deaths.
