Coast guys go crazy about Paw paw leaves

 

Outbreak of Chikungunya virus has seen residents turn to witchdoctors for remedies The virus has no cure, with soup from pawpaw leaves reportedly being used as a remedy

The outbreak of Chikungunya disease in Mombasa has increased sale of pawpaw leaves.

The disease is characterized by blurred vision.

Speaking to The Nairobian, Aisha Hussein, a resident of Kisauni said she almost fell on the fire as she was preparing mandazi karai.

“By lunch time, the fever had spread to my joints besides the splitting headache.” 

When she visited a local dispensary, Aisha was diagnosed with Dengue Fever, a viral infection, which alongside Chikungunya have been wreaking havoc among residents.   

Both have no cure. Some have turned to witch doctors. The best medics can do is try stabilize victims.  Some have survived, others died.

The good news is the entry of a domestic remedy-which was what witchdoctors and traditional healers were using- pawpaw leaves.

Those who drank its soup survived.

Now those with pawpaw trees are having sleepless nights, guarding them at night.

“It is just a matter of time before they start selling these leaves in the market,” says Alfred Gachimba who works as an accountant.

It is alleged the pawpaw leaves can be crushed and the juice strained in a cloth for drinking or they can be boiled and the soup drank.

For maximum effects, seven to ten leaves are required three times a day.