THE catastrophic upsurge in Covid-19 infections, hospitalisations and deaths in India since March has seen a resurgence in disinformation on traditional medicines via social and other media.
While much of the disinformation is about the effectiveness of traditional Indian remedies in treating Covid-19, African traditional remedies have also been pushed as alternatives to Covid-19 vaccines.
One organisation, that has been vocal in spreading anti-vaccine messages across the continent is the Confederation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations of West Africa (Camtao).
Making use of social media and a newsletter spammed through mailing lists with contacts across the continent, Camtao has been making anti-vaccine statements and championing traditional African remedies as viable alternatives to Covid-19 vaccines.
In its latest newsletter, for April 2021, Camtao makes dubious claims about scientific processes involving traditional medicines:
“In India, where 700 000 homeopathic doctors practice; the journal Express Pharma published a study by the Biogetica Laboratory. This was a clinical trial involving 100 coronavirus patients to validate the effectiveness of seven herbal remedies from Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine.
“In the herbal cohort, 100% of patients had no trace of the virus after 10 days, compared to 88% in those treated with modern drugs. “In the Republic of Guinea, the Institute for Research and Valorisation of Medicinal Plants, reported the results of clinical trials on the phytomedicine ACAR which was used to treat Covid-19 patients.
“At the end of a randomised study, 70% of the patients were free of Covid-19 symptoms,” the newsletter claimed.
On the anti-vaccine front, the newsletter states: “Here we are, entangled in a most dismal vaccine hostel to hatch a virus with a gestation period which has lasted for more than a year defies science (sic), unless this pathogen is maintained by its perpetual culture in the laboratory to continue to earn a staggering jackpot to vaccine makers (sic).
However, it’s not just groups like Camtao that have been spreading false hope and anti-vaccine posts as many people, including Namibians, continue sharing herbal treatment remedies and recipes in WhatsApp and social media groups.
Global health authorities maintain that traditional or herbal remedies are not proven treatments for Covid-19 or alternatives for Covid-19 vaccines.
In July 2020, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), of the African Union (AU), issued a statement, which remains current, on the use of traditional remedies or medicines in the treatment of Covid-19: “Many of the claims are difficult to verify because of the lack of documented evidence showing that these remedies prevent or clear SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or improve clinical outcomes of those suffering from Covid-19.
“As the pandemic continues to spread, there are increasing messages promoting the use of herbal traditional medicines. Currently, no herbal remedy has been validated for use to prevent or treat Covid-19.”
However, in September 2020, in order to investigate the potential of traditional African remedies and medicines in treating Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa CDC and the African Union Commission for Social Affairs created the ‘Regional Expert Committee on Traditional Medicine for Covid-19’.
The committee is to ensure African traditional medicines and remedies are put through clinical trials, like other medical or pharmaceutical products, to ensure they are safe and effective.
Despite this, health authorities continue to warn against using unverified remedies to treat Covid-19, or any other disease, and caution against them being viewed as alternatives to Covid-19 vaccines.
*Frederico Links is the editor of Namibia Fact Check, which is a project of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Namibia Fact Check can be viewed at www.namibiafactcheck.org.na
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
