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AFRICA: Snake oil salesmen and dodgy HIV "cures"
Photo: Kanya Ndaki/PlusNews
Ubhejane - the traditional medicine which was said to help
HIV-positive people boost their immune system
NAIROBI/JOHANNESBURG, 19 January 2012 (PlusNews) - Uganda's National
Drug Authority recently arrested sales representatives of a company
selling a drug that purports to cure HIV; the firm's owners are not
licensed to sell medicine and are being sought by the police.
The drug, known as Virol ZAPPER, was being sold in 37ml liquid doses,
each costing about US$210; patients were advised to take 10 drops
daily. It was being advertised on local radio and TV stations as a
miracle cure for HIV.
The sale of such "cures" is a profitable racket for charlatans willing
to take advantage of desperate HIV-positive people; here is a
collection of some dodgy treatments that have made the news in Africa
over the years:
Tanzania - In 2011, tens of thousands of people from all over East
Africa flocked to the tiny village of Loliondo in Tanzania seeking a
cure for several diseases, including diabetes, tuberculosis and HIV.
Ambilikile Mwasapile, a former Lutheran pastor, was charging 500
Tanzanian shillings - about $0.33 - for a cup for his concoction.
Several sick people died in the queues, which at their peak numbered
15,000 people. Studies are being conducted to determine the properties
of Mwasapile's treatment.
South Africa - A 2008 Cape High Court judgment ruled that clinical
trials of multivitamins in the treatment of HIV/AIDS by controversial
vitamin salesman Matthias Rath were unlawful, and stopped them. The
court also prohibited Rath from publishing any more advertisements
claiming that his product, VitaCell, cured AIDS, pending further
review by the Medicines Control Council.
Rath, who had been operating in South Africa since about 2004, claimed
his multivitamins treated AIDS, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, bird
flu and numerous other illnesses. Rath ran numerous advertisements
aimed at convincing HIV-positive people to take his high-dose
multivitamins rather than ARVs, available free-of-charge through the
public health system, which he claimed were "toxic".
Kenya - In 2008, the government warned HIV-positive people in the
country's eastern Coast Province to reject herbal "cures" peddled by
fake herbalists who claimed their concoctions contained unique
ingredients that could boost the immune system and even cure HIV.
An estimated 80 percent of Kenyans use traditional healers either
exclusively or in conjunction with western medicine; the government is
drafting regulations to stop fraudulent herbalists from practising.
Gambia - In 2007, President Yahya Jammeh was roundly denounced by AIDS
activists when he said he had found a cure for HIV/AIDS and began
treating citizens. Shortly after his announcement, Jammeh expelled the
most senior UN official in the country for questioning his "cure".
The programme is still running, but more Gambians are choosing ARVs
over Jammeh's treatment.
Ethiopia - In 2007, thousands of HIV-positive patients flocked to
Entoto, an ancient mountain north of the capital, Addis Ababa, seeking
a "holy water" cure for AIDS after local priests said they could cure
HIV.
The Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abune Paulos, later
advised patients to continue with their ARVs even as they sought
healing at Entoto.
Governments often urge HIV-positive people to continue with their
ARVs, even as they use alternative treatments (file photo)
緌 Tome and Principe - In 2007, questions were raised about
Dorviro-Sida, or "Put AIDS to sleep" in Portuguese, an anti-AIDS
herbal remedy produced by Amancio Valentim, president of the
Association of Traditional Medicine of S緌 Tome and Principe. Valentim
claimed three tablespoons of the brownish syrup, taken every day
before meals, could reduce the viral load and make patients feel
better; he said four patients who had taken the drug for four years
had tested negative for HIV.
AIDS activists were concerned the drug could make HIV-positive people
complacent about taking their ARVs, and the health ministry said it
did not support Valentim's treatment.
South Africa - In 2006, a clinic in South Africa's east coast city of
Durban began to sell "ubhejane" - a herbal mixture believed to treat
HIV/AIDS.
The controversial traditional medicine received vast media coverage,
mainly due to the backing it received from influential political
figures such as the former health minister, Dr Manto
Tshabalala-Msimang, and provincial health officials. Ubhejane, a dark
brown liquid sold in old plastic milk bottles, had not undergone any
clinical trials to test its efficacy. All that the tests confirmed was
that it was not toxic.
But HIV-positive patients were far more willing to accept the
traditional medicine as an effective remedy, flocking to the clinic to
buy a full course of the herbal remedy that retailed at R374 ($40).
Uganda - In 2006, the Ugandan government banned the use of a popular
anti-AIDS herb remedy known as "Khomeini", after tests found it
provided no cure. Iranian Sheikh Allagholi Elahi claimed the drug -
which contained olive oil and honey and cost $1,650 per dose - could
cure HIV/AIDS and TB in three weeks.
Studies by experts in Uganda and Kenya found that while patients had
gained weight due to the nutritional content of the drug, it was
incapable of curing HIV.
[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]
--
-Laye
==============================
"With fair speech thou might have thy will,
With it thou might thy self spoil."
--The R.M
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