Covid-19: Race to eucalyptus in Maputo – Watch

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Covid-19: Race to eucalyptus in Maputo – Watch

2:06 CAT | 13 Apr 2020

Photo: Miramar

In the absence of a vaccine, doctors and scientists are looking for alternatives to curb the lethality of the coronavirus. In the meanwhile, many Mozambicans are looking for preventative measures, one of which is eucalyptus, a plant known to improve the functioning of the airways. Demand has been so high that the plant is no longer in stock at some outlets in Maputo, Miramar reports.

The use of eucalyptus is traditional in Mozambique, often in the ‘bafo’, made by boiling eucalyptus leaves in a pot of water and inhaling the vapours to improve the performance of the respiratory system.

The emergence of Covid-19, which affects the respiratory system, has led to an exponential increase in the demand for the leaves of the plant, and while Maputo does not have an official market for its sale, it certainly looks like a new business has been born in the city.

Bundles of leaves vary in price between 50 and 100 meticais per bundle, sometimes even more. In the few places where eucalyptus is sold in the capital, the scenario is one of enormous demand.

Luís António works as a gardener at Repinga, which has eucalyptus trees. While he says he is not against entrepreneurial endeavour, he warns that there is a real danger of deforestation there.

Mr Leandro Salada has 55 years of experience, and says that eucalyptus helps fight fever, flu and even malaria. Given the characteristics of Covid-19, Salada believes that eucalyptus can also help limit the spread of the pandemic.

It should be noted that eucalyptus is not a cure for any disease, and has likewise not been proven to be the cure for the new coronavirus. Health professionals also warn against inhaling eucalyptus vapours too frequently.