Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Zimbabwe's Government Says Herbal Treatment OK for COVID-19

Columbus Mavhunga

   HARARE - Zimbabwe's government has authorized traditional herbalists to
   treat coronavirus patients, but health experts are skeptical and are
   urging extreme caution.

   Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health delivered a letter Monday to the head of
   the country's main COVID-19 treatment center in Harare, asking him to
   consider using a herbalist who has questionable claims to have a cure
   for the virus.

   Speaking via WhatsApp, Dr. Nyika Mahachi, the president of Zimbabwe
   College of Public Health Physicians, said the coronavirus was still
   evolving and its mortality was fairly high.

   "So we cannot take a chance with traditional medicine that is not
   proven," he added. "Even on the regular medicines that we have, none of
   them have been proven to be effective in treatment or cure of COVID-19.
   So, this is an unwelcome development. I am hoping that this is not a
   true approval, something went wrong somewhere, and the ministry
   urgently addresses this."

.