Various social media posts claim that COVID-19 treatment elaborated by Archbishop Samuel Kleda has been baptized "Kledavid".

On a picture being shared with the post is a 100 ml bottle containing the  French inscription translated as follows: "Kledavid. The drinkable solution against coronavirus." 

"This is false information invented by some internet users,” says Lazare Kolyang, chief of staff to the general administrator of the Saint Jerome Catholic University Institute (a private institution of higher education belonging to the Diocese of Douala).

 "Archbishop Kleda asks people to remain vigilant and reminds that the products are free and only available at Catholic hospitals in the city of Douala, diocesan health coordinators in Yaoundé, Bafoussam, Bertoua, and Garoua," he added in a statement published on his Facebook page on Monday, May 18, 2020.

Bishop Kleda has not yet officially unveiled the name of his product. For now, "essential oils" is the name used to designate the bishop's treatment, according to Dr. Engelbert Kameni, Diocesan Health Coordinator at the Archdiocese of Douala.

"He [ed.note: Bishop Kleda] treats the symptoms of these respiratory infections with essential oils. Today, with the advent of Covid-19, the number of consultations has greatly increased and we continue to treat these symptoms," said Dr. Kameni in an interview with the national daily Cameroon tribune.

Bishop Kleda, a herbalist renowned for 30 years now, announced on April 25 that he had "treated" and "relieved" patients suffering from Covid-19 with his herbal recipe.

"I can say that the product I have developed is very effective against the coronavirus. Everyone who has been treated with this product has regained their health, even those who were already in an advanced stage," he said.

At the end of April, a team from the Ministry of Public Health (Minsanté) met with the Archbishop of Douala to accompany him and evaluate his drug. However, for the diocesan health coordinator, "it is difficult, at this stage, to say that we have a treatment for Covid-19.” The National Order of Physicians of Cameroon (ONMC) has also expressed reservations in this regard, believing that the effectiveness of this "remedy" has not yet been scientifically proven.

The World Health Organization (WHO), however, warns against local "remedies". While the WHO acknowledges that some substances, particularly those from traditional pharmacopoeia, can "alleviate the symptoms" of Covid-19, it says that there is currently no evidence that they can prevent or cure the disease.

P.N.N