Madagascar has registered its first coronavirus death since the outbreak of the disease in the country.
The deceased 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 had 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.
Madagascar which has recorded 304 cases of the dreaded disease has been in the news over its much publicized COVID-19 herbal remedy that President Andry Rajoelina claims can cure people infected with the virus.
Samples of the product were also sent to several African countries, including Nigeria. And, President Buhari confirmed on Saturday that he has received the product which he said would go through scientific approval before it would be administered on Nigerians.
The tonic drink is derived from artemisia — a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment — and other indigenous herbs.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has warned against “adopting a product that has not been taken through tests to see its efficacy”.
