Four people die after allegedly using HIV herbal treatment in Gombe
The Nigeria Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (NEPWHAN) in Gombe State introduced on Thursday that 4 of its members have died after allegedly using herbal HIV treatment.
Muhammad Ibrahim, the affiliation’s program director, mentioned this in Gombe language at an occasion to mark World AIDS Day 2023.
Ibrahim mentioned it was worrisome that herbal treatments have been getting used to deal with HIV in the state and that members have been more and more sponsoring such unorthodox medicines.
He harassed the necessity for the federal government and stakeholders to manage and verify the distribution of different HIV remedies in the state.
Ibrahim mentioned many HIV-positive sufferers who’re desperately in search of a remedy are selecting herbal medication, including that many die on account of incorrect remedy.
“Many of our members subscribe to and use herbal medicines based mostly on info disseminated by conventional medication peddlers throughout Gombe.
“These people are overtly promoting and claiming that they’ve found a remedy for HIV, and because of this, many voters are shopping for the drug.
“There is not any scientific proof that herbal treatments are real, so we wish the federal government to research this matter and take mandatory motion.
“Anyone who claims to have discovered a cure for HIV should be identified and required by the government to verify and authenticate their claims before public sale or use,” Ibrahim mentioned. Stated.
Dr. Habu Dahir, the state’s well being secretary, additionally commented, saying there is no such thing as a scientific proof that herbs can deal with the illness.
Dahir suggested NEPWHAN members and all people dwelling with HIV to chorus from using herbal medicines to deal with the illness, including that such concoctions injury important organs.
“There is not any scientific proof that herbal medicines are efficient, however antiretroviral medicine are efficient and once we do viral load assessments we see a discount, which is scientific.
“Herbal medication has unwanted effects, particularly damaging the liver and kidneys.
“We have all the time discouraged using uncertified remedies. Medicines and herbs should endure numerous phases of testing and certification earlier than being accepted to be used in the treatment of sure ailments. there’s.
“I’ve never heard of any herbs approved to treat HIV,” he says.
On combating the scourge, Dahir mentioned the state has achieved a lot in decreasing the illness burden.
He added that 95% of suspected instances in the state have been examined and handled with remedy, and 95% of sufferers on remedy have efficiently suppressed the virus.
“This is a good feat for the state,” he mentioned, including that the state will keep this feat, ramp up testing and encourage using ART for constructive instances.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) studies that December 1st is World AIDS Day and this yr’s theme is “Community-led”.
Source: dailypost.ng