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Covid-19: WHO supports traditional medicine based on scientific evidence

The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes innovations around the world, including the recycling of medicines, products from the traditional pharmacopoeia and the development of new therapies as part of the search for treatments. potentials of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This is what a WHO press release published on Monday, May 4, said.

WHO recognizes that traditional, complementary and alternative medicine has many benefits. Africa also has a long history of traditional medicine and traditional healers who play an important role in the care of populations, recognizes the UN agency.

“Herbal remedies such as artemisia annua are considered possible treatments for COVID-19, but trials should be carried out to assess their effectiveness and determine their side effects. Africans deserve to use drugs tested to the standards that apply to drugs made for people around the world. “ notes the press release.

WHO is working with research institutes to select products from the traditional pharmacopoeia on which investigations can be carried out to determine their clinical efficacy and their safety in the treatment of Coronavirus.

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“For the past two decades, WHO has worked with countries to ensure the safe and effective development of traditional medicine in Africa, providing financial resources and technical support for this purpose. WHO has supported clinical trials, which has led 14 countries to issue marketing authorizations for 89 products from the traditional pharmacopoeia that meet established international and national regulatory standards. “, recalls the press release.

As efforts are made to find a treatment for Coronavirus, caution should be exercised not to fall into misinformation, particularly on social media, about the effectiveness of certain remedies. Many plants and substances are offered when they do not meet minimum standards for quality, safety and efficacy, and there is no evidence that these standards are met, advises WHO.

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