Fake and bogus cure claims are a longstanding, but neglected public health problem.
In Nigeria, for instance, as early as the 1990s, Jeremiah Abalaka, a surgeon with fringe training in immunology, startled the world with his HIV cure claim.
Fighting these cure claims is integral to containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, merely identifying bogus COVID-19 cure claims or alerting the public about them is no longer enough.
Countries and national health bodies must integrate traditional healers, faith leaders and community principals in their COVID-19 response strategies.
