By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Africa’s leading traditional healer — Dr Kamwelo Banda — has warned people against over dosing traditional medicines and herbals amid spike in Covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe.
The famed traditional healer who is affectionately known as Sekuru Banda raised concern following unprecedented use of traditional medicines, herbals and other home remedies as people try to cure themselves of Covid-19.
“Even snuff (bute) has nicotine which is a chemical and please take note, if you have no symptoms and not infected with Covid-19 do not use it. This is because bute has side effects on your lungs as well as pancreas.
“Bute can also block your nose and can be addictive too. However, if you’re unwell the same bute can cure a lot of ailments since time immemorial. It can also cure breathing problems when one is infected with Covid-19,” Sekuru Banda said.
The majority of people have now resorted to steaming at least three times a day using ginger, garlic, Zumbani and Eucalyptus oil a situation Sekuru Banda said could trigger other ailments.
“This is a warning to all and sundry who are using traditional herbs. Please do not overdose the medicines when you are not ill because when your body gets used to such concoctions it will not be able to cope when you eventually get infected with Covid-19.
“My advice to people is that yes, you can steam at least once a day and skips some days before you repeat the same procedure. However, only when you know you are ill you can steam three times a day and also use other home remedies during illness,” he said.
Sekuru Banda is among the proponents of traditional medicines who have long campaigned for the production and use of herbal mixtures to cure some of the world’s deadliest ailments like cancer, diabetes and Blood Pressure.
Zimbabwe recorded an unprecedented record high 60 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours on Monday, a situation that has forced health experts to conclude that this could just be a tip of an iceberg, considering that collation of data on the pandemic has not been very efficient.
Around 773 deaths have been recorded in the country since the first case of the deadly respiratory virus was confirmed last year.
Health experts said the latest rise in the number of people succumbing to the virus could be heralding the beginning of catastrophe ahead, as the country struggles with a health sector which is in comatose, and people that have continued to defy COVID-19 lockdown regulations, as well as safety precautions.
In its COVID-19 situational report update, the Health ministry said on Monday that the country recorded 689 new cases of the virus, out of a total 27 892 infections.
The 689 new cases were all said to be local infections, and health analysts said that revealed that people in the country should not continue to underestimate the effects of the second wave of COVID-19.
The national case fatality rate now stands at 2,8 % as at January 18, 2021. Harare reported the highest number of cases 339 while a total of 60 COVID-19 deaths were reported on Wednesday, and 37 of the deaths occurred at institutional level, with 23 being recorded at community level according to Ministry’s update.
It further said that on Monday, all provinces in the country reported COVID-19 cases.
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