Liberia’s Decision on “COVID-Herbal Drink” Embarrassed WHO and US-CDC Representatives -says Infectious Disease Scientist Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan
By Jana-Astrid Schäfer and Fatoumata Njei
GENEVA, May 24, 2020 – The Liberian government’s decision to import the Madagascan COV Herbal Drink has apparently caused an embarrassment for the Country-Representatives of the World health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This statement was made by the Liberian infectious diseases scientist, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan during an interview on Monrovia’s Spoon TV/FM 107.5 MHz during the May 5th edition of the Todays Show hosted by Darius Slanger and William Harmon.
Given that the WHO has advised against countries using the Madagascan “COVID-Herbal Drink,” Dr. Nyan stated that, “this presents a very serious situation or an embarrassing situation for the WHO representative in the country [Liberia] and the US Centers for Disease Control representative in the country; I am not sure if they did agree” with the Liberian government on bringing the “COVID-Herbal Drink” in the country,” he said.
Speaking on the WHO’s role, Dr. Nyan added that, “we should not see the WHO as a police-man, but as a guiding-institution under which every country should work to follow international standards.”
Asked whether the Madagascar “COVID-Herbal Drink” was brought into the country for political reasons, Dr. Nyan responded that, “whether it was done for political reasons or not, it is not for me to decide; we are looking at the medical aspect of it — of why it should not have been allowed in the country” since it has not yet been scientifically tested for its safety and effectiveness against the Coronavirus-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
According to the NewScientist, the Regional Director of the World Health Organization for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said that “a herbal drink promoted by the president of Madagascar as a cure for covid-19 should be tested to see if it is effective,” adding that “the WHO has no evidence the drink works.”
During the interview of the Spoon TV Today Show, Dr. Nyan questioned that “why are we against unethical vaccines trials on the African Continent, but accepting an African-made Herbal drink that has not been tested and has unvalidated claims?”
Dr. Nyan, who served on the Data Safety Monitoring Board of the PREVAIL multicenter Ebola vaccine studies says he supports “vaccine trials [in Africa] based on ethical and internationally established standard.”
“We are in modern times now where we have trained professionals; we [Africans] need quality thinkers, we need critical thinkers in the sciences, in medicine, in the economy, in every aspect of life. That is why our countries need to focus on developing our capacity,” Dr. Nyan further commented.
Asked what would have been his advice to the president, Dr. Nyan said he blamed the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia for “misguiding the Liberian president.” He emphasized that he “would have advised the president not to bring the ‘COVID-Herbal Drink’ in Liberia for treating COVID-19 infected persons.” Dr. Nyan further advised the president and the population not to take the Madagascar Concoction until it is scientifically investigated, and proven to be safe and effective against Coronavirus-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
Since the outbreak in Outbreak in 2019, Dr. Nyan has Awareness via TV and radio as well as advised the on locking down the country, against the unnecessary testing of dead bodies for COVID-19, against Liberia and Africa using the faulty US-CDC COVID-19 testing kits, contact tracing and mass testing, wearing of face mask, and other regulations.