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Mozambique man goes blind after using urine to treat conjunctivitis

A man in Mozambique has gone blind after using traditional medicine and urine to cure conjunctivitis.

Babu Aiuba is currently receiving treatment at the Central Hospital of Quelimane.

He told local reporters he had contracted haemorrhagic conjunctivitis earlier this month.

“I washed my eyes with soap and urine,” he said.

Mr Aiuba said this was “a practice of people in the neighbourhood”.

But this only made his eye worse. He eventually lost his sight.

Ophthalmologist Eugénia Cavele said the use of traditional medicines made the bacterial conjunctivitis progress to blindness.

“I would like to warn everyone who has symptoms or signs of conjunctivitis not to use substances that are not scientifically proven and not to self-medicate, as this can lead to stages of blindness,” Mr Cavele said.

This is the first case of blindness caused by traditional treatment since haemorrhagic conjunctivitis broke out in Mozambique.

Haemorrhagic conjunctivitis now affects almost all Mozambican provinces, including the capital, Maputo.

Authorities have also reported cases of conjunctivitis at the Maputo Provincial Penitentiary Establishment.

At least 270 inmates of the prison are infected.

Conjunctivitis outbreaks have also hit several other countries in east and southern Africa.

 

Source: bbc.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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