Enugu State monarch says native doctors and soothsayers should be consulted for a Covid-19 cure

IGWE Emeka Ugwu the traditional ruler of Owerre autonomous community in Nsukka Local Government Area in Enugu State has called on governments at all levels to consult native doctors and soothsayers in their quest to find a cure for coronavirus.

 

By and large, Nigeria has been spared the worst effects of the global pandemic as the country has only recorded 65 affected people with just one death so far. However, the government has taken several measures to prevent its spread, including the shutting of all Nigeria's five international airports, closing the country's borders, banning mass gatherings and receiving medical equipment from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma.

 

However, Nigeria is short of testing equipment and should the pandemic afflict the country in a big way, it would overwhelm the ill-funded health system. Short of there being a medical cure, Nigeria would struggle to cope were she afflicted in the manner that say China, Italy or the US have been.

 

Calling on the government to look for traditional remedies, Igwe Ugwu has asked officials to consult native doctors, soothsayers, herbal medicine dealers in search of a cure. He made the call in Nsukka while fielding questions from journalists at the ongoing public enlightenment campaign on the pandemic.

 

According to the traditional ruler, most native doctors, soothsayers and traditional herbal medicine dealers found solutions to strange diseases over the years. He lamenting the fact that governments have been reluctant to engage the traditional approach to research as it seeks a permanent cure of the pandemic.

 

Igwe Ugwu said: “Government at all levels should not watch people suffer and die without exploring all possible means for cure to the coronavirus pandemic. While governments wait and hope on scientists for a solution to nip the spread of the pandemic virus in the bud, native doctors, soothsayers and traditional herbal medicine dealers have to be consulted for a solution.

 

"Nigeria survived HIV/Aids, lassa fever, ebola among others and will survive the coronavirus pandemic. Some native doctors have supernatural gifts and potentials in curing strange diseases, therefore government should engage them to embark on spiritual warfare to curb the menace because it’s a matter of life and death.

 

“The disease is not an ordinary one hence the need to involve all and sundry in the quest for solution to the cure for the pandemic virus. “Nature will not allow this virus to harm any of my subjects because it is not our disease, so our land will protect us against it.”

 

He, however urged the community to comply with all government directives on safety and preventive measures pointing out that they should also observe and maintain a high level of personal hygiene. Igwe Ugwu applauded the efforts made by the Enugu State government so far to contain the spread of the virus by banning burials, weddings, and all forms of social activities.

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