Elephant dung sellers 'preying on ignorance'
TUYEIMO HAIDULA
OSHAKATI
Health minister Kalumbi Shangula says elephant dung does not cure Covid-19 and those selling it are preying on the ignorance of others.
Shangula's remarks come after social media was abuzz over the past few days, with some punting elephant dung as a remedy for Covid-19.
In some Namibian cultures the dung, which is made up of a variety of plants and leaves, is smoked as a 'cure' for nosebleeds, sinusitis and headaches.
Lately, Namibians have added it as a solution to the coronavirus pandemic.
Namibia is home to over 22 000 elephants.
Snake oil
Other doctors Namibian Sun spoke to echoed Shangula's sentiments.
A doctor at the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital in Oshikoto, Siraji Saad Rwehumbiza, said although he has seen the social media rumours, he is not aware of any medical use for elephant dung.
Dr Ferlin De Almeida at Windhoek's Robert Mugabe Covid-19 centre, who is in charge of the screening and consultations, said: “I've been seeing the hype as well but I do not know who or what said that it helps. As doctors, we rely on science-based medicine and elephant dung is not associated with any of that.”
Stay out of parks
Meanwhile, environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda has warned Namibians to not collect elephant dung from national parks as it is a punishable offence and offenders are liable to be fined N$1 200.
“We are not saying people should not collect the dung. They should just not collect in national parks. If we find you in the national park with a sack of elephant dung, we will detain you and charge you. Elsewhere if it's not a protected area they can collect them and utilise for whatever reason,” he said.
Muyunda also discouraged Namibians from following unproven rumours.
“People must know what they need to do to stay safe and help fight coronavirus. There is no reason to add dung to the list,” he said.
A search on Twitter shows that elephant dung is being sold for N$35 to N$50 depending on the weight. Some are reportedly selling it for N$100. [email protected]
OSHAKATI
Health minister Kalumbi Shangula says elephant dung does not cure Covid-19 and those selling it are preying on the ignorance of others.
Shangula's remarks come after social media was abuzz over the past few days, with some punting elephant dung as a remedy for Covid-19.
In some Namibian cultures the dung, which is made up of a variety of plants and leaves, is smoked as a 'cure' for nosebleeds, sinusitis and headaches.
Lately, Namibians have added it as a solution to the coronavirus pandemic.
Namibia is home to over 22 000 elephants.
Snake oil
Other doctors Namibian Sun spoke to echoed Shangula's sentiments.
A doctor at the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital in Oshikoto, Siraji Saad Rwehumbiza, said although he has seen the social media rumours, he is not aware of any medical use for elephant dung.
Dr Ferlin De Almeida at Windhoek's Robert Mugabe Covid-19 centre, who is in charge of the screening and consultations, said: “I've been seeing the hype as well but I do not know who or what said that it helps. As doctors, we rely on science-based medicine and elephant dung is not associated with any of that.”
Stay out of parks
Meanwhile, environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda has warned Namibians to not collect elephant dung from national parks as it is a punishable offence and offenders are liable to be fined N$1 200.
“We are not saying people should not collect the dung. They should just not collect in national parks. If we find you in the national park with a sack of elephant dung, we will detain you and charge you. Elsewhere if it's not a protected area they can collect them and utilise for whatever reason,” he said.
Muyunda also discouraged Namibians from following unproven rumours.
“People must know what they need to do to stay safe and help fight coronavirus. There is no reason to add dung to the list,” he said.
A search on Twitter shows that elephant dung is being sold for N$35 to N$50 depending on the weight. Some are reportedly selling it for N$100. [email protected]
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