Madagascar’s Covid-Organics: President sacks Education Minister for ordering $2m sweets

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has sacked the country’s Minister of Educatio, Rijasoa Andriamanana, over plans to order more than $2m (£1.6m) worth of sweets for school children.

According to the BBC, the Minister said the school children would be given three lollipop sweets each to mask the “bitter” aftertaste of the Coronavirus remedy produced by the country, called COVID Organics.

However, President Rajoelina oblected to the plan and called it off.

Several African countries, including Nigeria, have since taken delivery of the herbal medicine while several others are still importing Covid-Organics amidst criticisms from the World Health Organisation, WHO, and the Madagascar’s National Medical Academy.

Close to 1,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Madagascar, with seven virus-related deaths.

WHO, in its latest report on the Covid-Organics, said it is considering the herbal medicine for clinical observation process.