By A Correspondent- Health and Child Care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has spoken out on the use of moringa and Zumbani to treat Covid-19.

Zumbani and Moringa have become much sought after traditional herbs in the country as people widely believe it can treat Covid-19.

The practice of “kunatira/kufufira (inhaling steam laced with herbs) has been so popular that sellers are making a lot of money selling herbs like Zumbani, Moringa, and Mufandichimuka.

In a press statement, Vice President Chiwenga said;

“Before I conclude my Press Statement, someone asked me whether traditional medicines such as Mufandichimuka, Moringa, Zumbani, and other herbs can be used to treat COVID 19 or substitute drugs for COVID 19?”

“Some Traditional Doctors were said to claiming that their patients recovered after administering herbs. My comment would be that, you might be aware that some modern medicines are actually derived from traditional herbs,” he said.

He urged citizens to rely on scientific backed evidence use of herbs and home remedies in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

“Yes, it is possible that some traditional medicines can be used to treat COVID 19 however, there is a need for scientific researches to be done to ascertain their efficacy. The Ministry of Health and Child Care actually operationalized the Traditional Medicines Department, which is pre-occupied with researches in this area,” he added.

Following the recent surge in Covid-19, VP Chiwenga called on citizens to abide by the lockdown regulations in the face of the worsening Covid-19 crises.

He also urged members of the public to continue to observe guidelines of wearing masks, observing social distance, and sanitization.