Health
Association Expresses Concern Over Herbal HIV Treatment
The Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) in Gombe State revealed on Thursday that four of its members had died allegedly due to the use of herbal HIV treatment.
Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim, the Programme Officer of the association, shared this information during an event marking the 2023 World AIDS Day.
Expressing concern over the prevalence of herbal therapy for HIV treatment in the state, Ibrahim emphasized the necessity for the government and stakeholders to address the circulation of alternative HIV treatments.
He highlighted that HIV-positive patients, seeking a cure, were turning to herbal remedies, resulting in fatalities due to incorrect medication.
Ibrahim called for scrutiny of individuals claiming to have discovered HIV treatment through herbs. He urged the government to verify such claims before allowing public sales and usage.
In response, Dr. Habu Dahiru, the Commissioner for Health, emphasized the lack of scientific proof regarding the efficacy of herbal treatment of HIV. He cautioned NEPWHAN members and those living with HIV against using herbal remedies, citing potential damage to vital organs.
Dr. Dahiru also shared the state’s achievements in reducing the disease burden, stating that 95 percent of suspected cases had been tested and placed on medication, with a corresponding 95 percent achieving viral suppression. Despite these strides, he emphasized the importance of maintaining these achievements, promoting testing, and encouraging the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among positive individuals.
World AIDS Day, commemorated on December 1, focuses on the theme “Let communities lead.
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