Tensions are rising in Madagscar as Hospitals are choking with patients of Coronavirus.
Madagascar citizens pioneered by their leader, President Andry Rajoelina, prior to reports of the surging number of COVID-19 cases in the country, had placed utmost confidence in the locally brewed Corona Virus treatment despite warnings by the World Health Organization (WHO) that there was no scientific study to back the concoction.
Despite the mass distribution of the herbal drink called COVID Organics(CVO) derived from Artemisia, a homegrown plant with anti-malarial properties, the number of coronavirus patients is increasing direly. COVID designated hospitals in Antananarivo the capital city of Madagascar warn that they are starting to run out of beds.
“We are now only accepting severe cases. The number of cases is increasing more and more,” Andohotapenaka Hospital Director, Nasolotsiry Raveloson told AFP news agency on Tuesday 21 July. “We now have 46 severe cases and only four spaces left.”
Among other hospitals like Joseph Raseta Befelatanana Hospital, the hospital director was quoted saying the facility was overwhelmed and that freeing up space was next to impossible. The head of Anosiala University Hospital, Rado Razafimahatratra also expressed that the hospital was overwhelmed.
However, the government in an official statement explained that “Positive COVID-19 cases did not take CVO or only took it infrequently, without following the prescribed dosage. Those who tested negative were taking the solution and remained negative despite living together without necessarily social distancing.
The region with the surging number of patients has been put under lockdown by President Rajoelina. The measure extends till July 26, when further instructions will be given.
Madagascar currently has 7,153 cases of Covid-19, with 3,303 active cases, 3,788 recoveries, and 62 deaths.