Information has emerged to the contrary that Madagascar is giving for free its herbal drink, COVID-Organics to the country to fast-track the healing of COVID-19 patients.
According to reports, the island nation has asked Nigeria to pay 170,000 Euros for the consignment delivered by Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.
Embalo, who visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja on Saturday, brought the drugs allocated to Nigeria.
President Buhari said Nigeria would take the drug through intensive test to determine its suitability.
It was reported that an invoice was delivered along with the drug.
“Madagascar has asked Nigeria to pay over €170,000 (N78, 200,000). We have received the invoice because the African country has made us to realise that the drugs are not being given out free”, The Nation quoted a source as saying.
Meanwhile, Madagascar has registered its first coronavirus death.
It was a 57-year-old medical worker who suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure, the national COVID-19 taskforce said on Sunday.
Taskforce spokeswoman, Hanta Danielle Vololontiana said in a televised statement that the man died on Saturday night.
“A man died from COVID-19 in Madagascar … he is 57 years old and a member of the medical staff,” she said.
