Residents Of Kenya From Magarini Cultural Centre Believe They Know A Way To Treat Covid-19

This footage was filmed and produced 16 November 2020. The elders from Magarini cultural centre say their treatment can make a breakthrough in the war against Covid-19, which has become a global crisis. They say in the old days there was a disease with similar symptoms to Covid-19, called Kivuti, which was curable. 'Kivuti' refers to flu-like herpes simplex. Katana Mwagona, one of the elders, said it is unfortunate that the elders are not involved in the war on Covid-19 yet they have a major role to play. Mwagona says there are trees as Mkadama, Muhirihiri and leaves of Neem tree, which are boiled. Then the patient is covered with a large piece of cloth and made to bend his face over the steaming pot for some time. This is done twice a day for about five days. The elder demonstrated the process with the 'patient' sweating profusely after being covered with a large piece of cloth. He said there should be incentives to provide support to poor elders. Tsuma Nzai, the director Magarini Cultural centre and coordinator of Mijikenda Kaya elders, says Kaya elders and witchdoctors are conversant with the treatment of coronavirus. He says there are witchdoctors who used their 'powers' to diagnose any disease and cure it. Nzai said the government should bring in experts from the Kenya Medical Research Institute to be shown the herbs. Nzai said the pandemic has really affected their calendar of events as Kaya Elders, which are normally held to sensitise residents about culture. (Footage by StringersHub via Getty Images)