Cameroon: Banking On Herbal Cure From Senior Catholic Prelate in COVID-19 Fight
April 29, 2020
By Boris Esono Nwenfor
Archbishop Samuel Kleda says for his herbal medication to be considered a possible cure for the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, studies need to be carried out
(Cameroon-PAV)
The
Douala Metropolitan Archbishop His Grace Samuel Kleda has said that for his
herbal medication to be considered a possible cure for the deadly Coronavirus
pandemic, studies need to be carried out on those who recovered after taking
the medicine.
The Bishop was speaking to reporters of Equinox Television
Sunday, April 26 to provide more clarity on this herbal concoction against the
Coronavirus.
Bishop Samuel Kleda had earlier announced through an
interview with the state broadcaster CRTV that some staff of the Diocesan
health services who tested positive for the COVID-19 pandemic recovered after
taking a herbal treatment he came up with.
"Given that I already knew the plants according to the
symptoms of the Coronavirus, I have simply put together these combinations,
prepared them and given to persons with the symptoms and they were
relieved," the clergyman said." "All we want is that the persons
shouldn't die," He said.
The prelate with 30years of medicinal plant research
experience hinted that though the COVID-19 patients to who were administered
the medication responded positively and regained their health, he cannot affirm
the medicine is a cure to the pandemic.
“…But, we need to be very careful, I am not implying I found
a cure for the Coronavirus. Before affirming such, thorough studies need to be
carried out and persons who took the medicine examined to be sure it kills the
virus…” His Grace Samuel Kleda said.
He further disclosed that they will continue administering
the treatment to patients who will present themselves at the Codas Caritas of
the St Paul parish in Nylon, Douala in the Littoral region of Cameroon. The
treatment is administered at no cost.
According to information, the Minister of Public Health Dr
Manoauda Malachie has dispatched a team to study the treatment to produce it on
a large scale for the general public.
Some leaders in Cameroon have already thrown their weight
behind the Bishop in the fight against the coronavirus. In a release signed
Monday, April 27th by Olivier Bibou Nissack, spokesman of Maurice Kamto, the
party has called on individuals to get to the Bishop Kleda and "establish
links for any help he will need for the massive production of medicine for the
treatment of coronavirus in Cameroon."
This latest news comes as Africans and leaders have taken
upon themselves to look for medicines for the coronavirus, and not waiting for
the West to produce a cure first. These people are turning to traditional
medications.
After Madagascar launched the herbal coronavirus
"cure", the World Health Organization (WHO) says there is no proof of
a cure for Covid-19, and called for caution.
Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala Archdiocese, who has practiced herbalism over the years, is receiving public attention with regard to his administering of herbal medicine to COVID-19 patients
Madagascar's national medical academy (Anamem) has also cast
doubt on the efficacy of Andry Rajoelina's touted prevention and remedy. It
said it had the potential to damage people's health as its "scientific
evidence had not been established".
As of April 29, Cameroon has recorded one thousand eight
hundred and six (1,806) confirmed cases of the coronavirus. 915 persons have
recovered from the virus, while 59 people have died.
