Miracle cures and madness

Hello out there big world! I wish I had time to share with you all the crazy news articles I read the in the local newspapers during my lunches in our (less than delightful) canteen. Over the last couple weeks the hottest news item here has not been Japan or Libya, but the miracle cure of some retired pastor (yes, of the churchly official variety) and its ability to cure everything from HIV/AIDS to diabetes and blindness.

Who am I to judge right?

But I can't help it.

Here's an excerpt from today's Daily News, an English language paper in Tanzania.

"The government has directed authorities in the Ngorongoro District, Arusha Region, to provide facilities that will enable people access 'miracle cure' at Samunge village in Loliondo easily and safer," reads the sub headline.

"We have directed Ngorongoro District authorities to provide water and better sanitation facilities at the area by building latrines," the Prime Minister, Mr. Mizengo Pinda, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

He said authorities in Nrogongoro have been directed to help hundreds of motor vehicles stuck on their way to Samunge village to continue with the journey.

The directive comes a day, after the decision by retired pastor, Rev Ambilikile Mwasapile to suspend administration of the cure for a week.

On Sunday, the pastor said the suspension was meant to allow him to clear thousands of people stranded at Samunge or on the way to the village. It is estimated that at least 24,000 people are currently in the queue.

Mr. Pinda said that the government strongly supported the pastor's decision and would provide assistance by supplying adequate canvas and tents at the area.

He said a dispensary at Loliondo would be upgraded and stocked with drugs for treatment of the various diseases including diabetes, cancer and hypertension. The prime minister said the district authorities have also been asked to handle bodies of people dying at the area while waiting for 'miracle' cure and when it is necessary arrange for their burial.

There are reports that at least 50 people have so far died while waiting for the cure or shortly after getting the cup from Mzee Mwasapile.

Mr. Pinda said the government has drawn up logistics for people and vehicles travelling to Loliondo including setting up waiting point in Bunda, Arusha and Babati.
...

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare cleared the 'magic' cure being administered by Rev. Mwaisapile, saying the medication is harmless.

"After visiting and collecting sample from Rev. Mwasisapile, we bnroufght them to our laboratories and got satisfactory results that the medicine with the prescribed dosage has no side effects on human beings," the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA), Acting Director General, Ms Charys Ugullum said yesterday.

Ms. Ugullum told a news conference in Dar es Salaam that the report was only part of a bigger document currently being complied.

The report would present details on the efficacy of the medication derived from a plant known as Cariss spinarumas on diabetes, asthma, HIV/AIDS, hypertension and cancer.

The report was jointly compiled by the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), TFDA, Tazania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), the Government Chemist, the Traditional and Alternative Health Practice Council and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

The joint researchers said they would follow up on the people who have taken the 'miracle' cure and 200 volunteers have agreed to take part in the study.

Costech Acting DG Dr. Rose Kignamkono said the commission had started procedures to determine if Rev. Mwaisapithe first person to use the drug for cure for the purpose of securing Intellectual Property Rights.

The Traditional and Alternative Health Practice Council Registrar, Dr. Paulo Mhane, said Rev. Mwaisapile had been asked to secure registration and has filled in the relevant forms.

The NIMR DG, Dr. Mwele Malecela said that the plant was common in the country and used by different tribes, but admitted that an in depth research had yet to be conducted.

"We have taken this as a challenge and hope to address these issues," she said.

Recently media reports quoted the Kenyan Public Health Minister Beth Mugo as saying that Rev. Mwaisapile should be arrested for misleading people.

Ms. Mugo said she intends to petition her Tanzanian counterpart to have the activities of Mwaisapile halted because he is a mere traditional healer bent on cheating the public.

While I don't even know where to begin with this story and article, I can direct you somewhere with some more reliable reporting on the story. My friend (and fellow mundus journalism alumni) went to Loliondo to check it out and filed a report for rRdio Netherlands worldwide.

http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/tanzanian-medicine-man-a-nation-his-doorstep

Stone Town loviliness

Having just spent an amazing weekend in Zanzibar with a friend (my first visitor in Africa) I'm lucky to already be planning my next visit. This time I get to combine a little weekend relaxation with work the following Monday and Tuesday AND my first family visit.

For a preview of our view in Stone Town in a few weeks

A few more choice shots for your viewing pleasure

 

Highway landscape panorama

 

Ngorongoro Crater viewpoint

Just another day for zebras on the plains of Ngorongoro crater

What's that behind us? A giraffe!

the long wait

A little bird tells me that I'm not good enough at updating my blog.

Sadly, he's right.

So to keep everyone happy, a few photos from my weekend.

Yes, you should be jealous!