Namibian Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula warned residents not to be misled by claims that elephant dung can cure COVID-19. This comes after posts were seen on social media of traditional healers selling elephant dung as a treatment for the virus.
Some traditional healers are selling elephant dung at unusually high prices.
Authorities said it respects people’s use of natural remedies, but urged residents not to engage in illegal activities to collect elephant dung. ‘We understand elephant dung is used traditionally as medicine elsewhere in the country,’ the Environment ministry’s spokesman Romeo Muyunda said according to eNCA.
‘Collecting dung outside national parks is not restricted,’ Muyunda added. ‘We just urge people to do so cautiously.’ Muyunda added that those trespassing in national parks would be prosecuted.
Elephant dung has been used in traditional medicine to treat headaches, toothaches and sinus. According to The Namibian, a cashier at a local market that sells dung for medicinal purposes said it usually sells for about N$20 (R20). Recently, however the retail price has gone up to about N$100 (R100) per piece.
The country currently has 4,464 confirmed cases, 37 deaths and 2,407 recoveries as reported on August 19.
Image credit: Twitter/DiazChrisAfrica
