coronavirus in africa
Popular
Rufaro Samanga
May. 12, 2020 11:41AM EST
Photo by Rijasolo/AFP via Getty Images

Madagascar's President Insists 'COVID-Organics' Tonic is Legitimate Treatment for Coronavirus.

Madagascar's President Insists 'COVID-Organics' Tonic is Legitimate Treatment for Coronavirus

However, the World Health Organisation maintains that proper clinical trials should be carried out before the tonic can be hailed as a safe and legitimate treatment for COVID-19.

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has referred to those who continue to criticise the COVID-Organics tonic he is touting as a treatment for COVID-19 as "detractors". While the World Health Organisation (WHO) maintains that proper clinical trials should be carried out before the tonic can be hailed as a safe and legitimate treatment for COVID-19, Rajoelina insists that there is a double standard that exists when it comes to remedies that are produced in Africa versus abroad.

Speaking in an interview with France24, Rajoelina said, "If it was a European country that had actually discovered this remedy, would there be so much doubt? I don't think so." He added that, "African scientists... should not be underestimated. I think the problem is that [the tonic] comes from Africa and they can't admit... that a country like Madagascar... has come up with this formula to save the world."

Rajoelina has also claimed that the tonic "cures" patients within 10 days. Additionally, the statesman has reached out to the South African government for help in scientifically analysing the Artemisia herb (the main ingredient in the tonic). As a result, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize tweeted recently, "We received a call from the government of Madagascar, who asked for help with scientific research." Mkhize clarified South Africa's potential involvement saying, "Our scientists would be able to assist with this research. We will only get involved in a scientific analysis of the herb. We are not at that point yet."

The governments of Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger and Tanzania have already taken delivery of consignments of the tonic. At present, Madagascar has 193 confirmed coronavirus cases with no reported deaths according to the BBC's Coronavirus in Africa tracker.

From Your Site Articles
coronavirusmadagascarpoliticscontroversycoronavirus in africa
Popular
Photo by Oupa Bopape/Gallo Images via Getty Images

South African Rapper Costa Titch Dies While Performing on Stage

Costa Titch, who was only 28, collapsed on stage in the middle of a festival performance.

South African rapper Constantinos Tsobanoglou, popularly known as Costa Titch, died over the weekend after collapsing onstage during a music festival performance. He was only 28.

Titch was performing at the Ultra South Africa concert near Johannesburg, when collapsed while on stage. The rapper regained consciousness but in quick succession collapsed a second time. Following his second collapse, emergency responders, and members of his team tried to revive him, but their efforts were unsuccessful. It is not yet clear what caused him to collapse.

Following the chain of events, Costa Titch’s family members confirmed the tragic news of his passing on his official Instagram account.

Ever since the news broke, fans shared their condolences on social media, and praised the artist for his musical ability.


Akon, who signed Costa to his label Konvict Muzik, also shared some heart warming words on his instagram account in respect to the late artist.

“I remember when Babs played me his record for the first time. I was convinced that he was going to make an impact in this world. Costa Titch had a vision that I knew for sure would take over the music industry globally and was on his way to doing just that when god’s plan intervened. It’s been a sad day but what makes me feel better is that I know he died doing what he loved doing the most in this world. God bless you COSTA!!!!!,” Akon wrote.

Before he passed, Costa had released the remix to his commercially successful “"Big Flexa" song. The rapper was also known for records like “Super Star” and “Goat." In 2020, he released his debut album, Made in Africa. Here's what OkayAfrica wrote about it at the time:

"Made in Africa doesn't do much to introduce the listener to the person behind Costa Titch. It's not that kind of album. As mentioned previously, it's made up of bangers and has plenty of guests. Almost every song is designed to be a single. So, there aren't any deep cuts in which the artist digs deep into his personal life to share heartfelt stories and vulnerability. The only instance is the song "Holy Rain" in which he reflects on his ongoing rise to the top of the SA hip-hop food chain—from being Cassper Nyovest's dancer to being tasked with 'saving the game.'"

Our thoughts go out to all of his loved ones.

Popular
Photo Credit: Showmax

Who are the 'Real Housewives of Nairobi?'

The ‘Real Housewives’ franchise turns to Nairobi, Kenya for a debut season, parading five of the country’s wealthiest women.

East Africa will finally have a taste of popular reality franchise The Real Housewives, after successful editions in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, and Abuja. Coming to Showmax on February 23 asThe Real Housewives of Nairobi,the streaming service may have struck reality TV gold, taking the show to different African countries and cementing continuity with more seasons.

With Real Housewives of Nairobi just around the corner, fans can count on the endless amounts of drama every Thursday. The reality TV show will follow the lavish lives of five women in Kenya drawn from media, entertainment, and entrepreneurship, orchestrating their own dynamic while observing the through-line and cues that have come to make the show an obsessive watch.

This East African iteration is produced by D&R Studios, and is part of The Real Housewives franchise licensed as a format by NBCUniversal Formats. Discover the cast members who will undoubtedly have our attention for weeks to come.



Susan Kaittany

Not new to the limelight, Kaittany first cut her teeth with fame as a teenage model, crowned Miss Earth Kenya in 2004. The title allowed her to compete with other contestants from around the world in the Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines. Her strong passion for beauty and fashion made her abandon her law profession for the hospitality industry.

Creating Posh Palace, a multi-million beauty empire that houses hair salons and spas in Nairobi, Kaittany has emerged as one of Kenya’s prominent beauty entrepreneurs and socialite. Her penchant for statement hairstyles suggests rich visuals when Real Housewives of Nairobi arrives. And she stays in touch with runway fashion by walking for Kenyan womenswear brand Aulgah Nato for their latest collection.

Vera Sidika

If there’s anyone Real Housewives of Nairobi needs on the show, it’s surely Vera Sidika. As one of Kenya’s most talked about celebrities, Sidika enjoys brewing controversy with her opinions which have landed her on gossip blogs and entertainment magazines. Last year, she made headlines for removing her butt implants due to medical complications, warning young women to love their natural bodies.

While her presence on social media has a stronghold in Kenya, the 33-year-old first picked up media notoriety as a video vixen. Her stint with reality television came when she was featured on Nairobi Diaries in 2015, a series that put her on screen alongside entertainers and socialites. As a businesswoman, she launched her herbal slimming tea Veetox in 2017 as well as a beauty parlor in Mombasa the following year.

Married to singer Brown Mauzo, Sidika has a daughter with one more child on the way.

Sonal Maherali

Sonal Mahreali is a mom of four who has cemented herself as a top luxury vlogger in Kenya. She launched her YouTube channel—where she shares videos on lifestyle, fashion, luxury travel, shoes, and lots more—in 2016.

It needs to be said again that Sonal has an obsession with high-end, luxury shoes. And while she’s calm and soft-spoken, she’s revealed that for Real Housewives of Nairobi she could get out of character if necessary. Maherali is married to Aly Maherali, the CEO of Executive Healthcare Solutions (EHS), the firm that represents Aetna International in Africa.

Maherali also has her own luxury clothing and shoe line, Simba Maharani.

Minne Kariuki

Those familiar with Minne Kariuki as Mariah from the Showmax originalSingle Kiasi won’t be surprised by her appearance on Real Housewives of Nairobi. Her character on the show has all of the Real Housewives tonal beats: living in a high-end apartment, drinking champagne, and traveling in private jets to luxury destinations. Importantly, she will be bringing the shade and sassiness to Kenya’s version of the Real Housewives.

The youngest of the cast members, Kariuki is married to artiste Charles Miugai, aka Lugz Kenya, with whom they have two daughters.

Lisa Christoffersen

Tanzanian-born Danish businesswoman Lisa Christoffersen has her heels at the intersection of interior design, African art, and curated luxury safari experiences.

Christoffersen is the founder of Lioness Rally, the first women-only rally team in Kenya, and Lifestyle Nairobi, an artisanal space in Nairobi’s diplomatic hub of Gigiri, featuring an art gallery, restaurants, spa, organic shops, and fashion houses.

Music
Image: single artwork

Tiwa Savage Teams Up With Ayra Starr & Young Jonn For New Single 'Stamina'

The Nigerian trio are here to make sure you can keep up!

Nigerian songstress Tiwa Savageis back, ladies and gents! This time around the star has assembled some of the faves to bring fans single "Stamina." The amapiano-inspired tune features fellow Nigerian superstar Ayra Starr and record producer-turned-singerYoung Jonn. The Magicsticks produced single comes via Empire records as Savage's first release of this year.

Keep reading...Show less
News Brief
Photo by Nicolas Daumas/EyeEm

Chad Ranked Last in Global Air Quality Report

Air quality in Chad shows levels of pollutants 17 times higher than the World Health Organization's guideline, according to the 2022 World Air Quality Report.

Chad has replaced Bangladesh as the country with the most polluted air in the world, according to the 2022 World Air Quality Report, published on Tuesday. The report, by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, analyzed data from 131 countries and compared it to the World Health Organization's global air quality guidelines (AQG). Data collected from Chad last year shows air pollutants at a level more than 17 times higher than the WHO guideline. In last year's report, Chad ranked just under Bangladesh as the country with the second most polluted air.

"Air pollution continues to be the world’s largest environmental health threat," this year's report began. "Worldwide, poor air quality accounts for 93 billion days lived with illness and over six million deaths each year... Exposure to air pollution causes and aggravates several health conditions which include, but are not limited to, asthma, cancer, lung illnesses, heart disease, and premature mortality."

The report also notes that the data for Chad is only collected from a single monitoring point in the city of N'Djamena. Of Africa's 54 countries, only 19 even have sufficient air quality data to be included in the report. However, that number is up from only 12 countries in the previous year. This underscores how the lack of access to monitoring stations in Africa and the Middle East has heightened the air pollution problem. From 2021 to 2022, the quantity of air pollutants (weighted by population) rose by 18% in Chad.

In an effort to reduce air pollution-related deaths and overall threats to global health, in 2021, the WHO set more strict guidelines by reducing acceptable amounts of the fine particulate matter used to measure air quality. The change was based on new data that showed increased evidence of the detrimental health effects of poor air quality.

"Improving air quality can enhance climate change mitigation efforts, while reducing emissions will in turn improve air quality," the WHO said in a news release about the new guidelines. "By striving to achieve these guideline levels, countries will be both protecting health as well as mitigating global climate change.”

This year, only six countries met the WHO guideline — an annual average of 5 micrograms of pollutants per cubic meter, or less. They were Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, and New Zealand.

"Citizens in only 10% of the global countries, regions and territories are breathing air that does not pose a risk to their health," reads IQAir's 2022 report.

get okayafrica in your inbox

news.

Sjava: The Man In the Mirror

Breaking down the South African hip hop artist’s latest album, Isibuko.

Worst Cyclone In Southern Africa's History Kills 190

35 days in, and Tropical Storm Freddy has torn through Malawi and Mozambique, making it the region's longest lasting cyclone to date.

Asake Performs On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Asake recently thrilled fans when he hit the stage at the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform some of his biggest hits.

Kel-P Is Coming For Everything He Deserves

As the Nigerian super-producer introduces himself as a singer with a new EP, we talk to him about the transition and finding a balance going forward.

popular.

Tems’ 2023 Oscar Dress Causes A Frenzy Online

Tems caused an online stir when she attended the Oscars in an eye-popping, white ensemble that was literally the center of attention.