Fighting COVID: Tanzania hospital installs 'Covid steam booths'. Steam inhalation booths such as this one have been in use in Tanzania

Fighting COVID: Tanzania hospital installs ‘Covid steam booths’. Steam inhalation booths such as this one have been in use in Tanzania

 

Fighting COVID: Tanzania hospital installs ‘Covid steam booths’

Tanzania’s main referral hospital has installed four steam inhalation machines to treat respiratory problems.

Muhimbili National Hospital director Lawrence Maseru said each patient would be spending at least five minutes to inhale the steam that is infused with herbal remedies – adding that herbal treatments had shown to be effective

Patients will pay about $2 to use the machine, which cost between $3,200 and $4,200 (£2,300 – £3,000) to install, The Citizen newspaper reported.

Earlier this month the health ministry launched a campaign to promote steam therapy to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and health experts do not recommend steam therapy for treating coronavirus.

Tanzania has not shared data on its coronavirus situation since May last year and until recently had downplayed the impact of the virus in the country.

Editorial Chief, Nigerian Bureau

Kings UBA is a Nigerian journalist and writer. I have reported for major local and international news organisations. I write satire. In 2017, I started contributing stories primarily to Discover Africa News Network. I can be reached on editorkingsuba@gmail.com. I currently manage Discover Africa News social media handles