Government denounces alleged HIV/Aids herbs
Government does not recognise herbs as a remedy in curing HIV and Aids, Chief of health services in the ministry of Health Dr. Charles Mwansambo has said.
The stand comes at a time when trade in the heavily advertised herbs claiming to cure Aids is flourishing on the local market.
In a written response to a questionnaire, Mwansambo maintained there is still no cure for HIV and Aids worldwide, describing all claims about Aids cure by herbalists as baseless.
“The alleged herbs have not been tested scientifically to ascertain their safety in human beings, dosage ranges as well as their medical efficacy and effectiveness in curing HIV and Aids. As such, the Ministry of Health does not recognise those herbs as effective remedies in curing HIV and Aids,” said Mwansambo.
He, however, said that it is worth noting that some of the herbs might have some medical properties that may aid in boosting immunity of patients who are HIV positive.
“But this needs to be proved through in vitro and in vivo testing of the herbs before such claims can be made. Right now, the government encourages all people who are HIV positive to seek care from our conventional health facilities and receive appropriate anti-retroviral therapy, care and support,” Mwansambo said.
While acknowledging the role of traditional medicine in Malawi, Mwansambo appealed to people to prioritise clinical medicine whenever they are ill.
“However, we encourage patients to go to health facilities first for medical attention when they are sick so that they are given appropriate diagnoses and prescriptions by qualified medical practitioners. In some cases, when western medicine fails, they may be advised to seek traditional medicine and it is only at that point that they may be allowed to consult traditional healers,” he said.
Mwansambo also said the ministry is currently sensitising the public about the need to seek health care from health facilities and most Malawians are aware of this information.
“This means that those who seek health care from traditional healers or herbalists do so on their own as autonomous individuals and they may be putting their lives at risk. There is nothing else the government can do about them as long as they have information about the need to seek health care from qualified health practitioners when they are sick,” he said.
Some clinical officers say that the herbs area hazard as they can bring change in human bodies.
“Health policies only allow advertisement of those drugs which do not bring any change in the human body such as Panado and other pain killers,” said one official.
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