The Covid-19 pandemic has given some people great ideas, in particular ideas to start businesses, ideas to improve existing businesses, ideas to make it through the boring days, and to the disadvantage of the poor, ideas to play with their (the poor) minds.
The pandemic has given birth to makeshift bakeries, makeshift breweries and makeshift doctors.
Yes makeshift doctors!
I have always believed that for something to exist there has to be proof thereof, and although we might have all been raised and grown-up in different environments, one can always tell when something is too good to be true. Many in our communities still do not believe in the existence of Covid-19, they believe that this is some form of a myth. Some believe that this ‘myth’, is there at the advantage of some business people or a particular group, while on the other hand others believe that governments are getting rid of the huge numbers of the populations around the world, particularly China.
The stories are too many to tell, some are pathetic to say the least.
Whether you have been raised or are accustomed to a traditional or westernized way, you know that there are ways and things that you believe and do not believe in, same here.
Although it has presented a business opportunity for some in parts of the country where it has been apparently been selling like fat cakes, the recent news that lengana/umhlonyane (Artemisia Afra or African Wormwood) can be used as a vaccine against Covid-19 should be taken with caution because this has not been scientifically proven. Madagascar and Vavi have said it works, but I have my reservations.
Remember some years back one Health Minister said garlic and beetroot can cure Aids?
You are within your rights to disagree, but like TB, Polio, Cancer and many other illnesses, the existence of Covid-19 has been proven. The numbers of deaths and infections are there for all to see. What has not been found or proven to work is its vaccine. It is for this reason that I welcome the governments warning for people not to take any information that says otherwise, not only with lengana but with many other homemade remedies. Let us heed the governments call and not listen to the self-made specialists of this world.
I know that an ‘Aunty’ from Zebediela can give you a receipt for mouthwatering fatkoeks, a ‘Gogo’ from Kwa-Ntuzuma can give you her secret mixture to stop an aching tooth, and an ‘Ausi or Abuti’ from Phumasbethane can give a remedy for a running stomach, but there has not yet been officially, at least officially, scientifically or medically, something announced or proven about there being a vaccine or remedy for Covid-19.
So fellow South Africans, for as long as we are on lockdown, let us wash our hands, wear our masks (correctly), keep to social distancing and most importantly STAY AT HOME until further notice!
Lerato wa ha Serero…
(This is Lerato Serero’s weekly Editorial comment, look out for it next week)
