Title and Link : Zimbabwe Herb Prolongs Lives Of HIV-Infected
Zimbabwe Herb Prolongs Lives Of HIV-Infected
Scientists Anna Chibamu, 12 January 2006*******************
ZIMBABWEAN scientists yesterday claimed that they had made a major breakthrough in trying to find a solution to increasing even further the lifespan of people living with HIV and Aids, a puzzle bugging the medical fraternity for two decades.
Health and Child Welfare deputy minister Edwin Muguti said clinical tests done on a herbal medicine, locally called gundamiti, had so far proved that it possesses healing properties for people living with HIV
"The clinical trials started on December 1 in 2005. To date, 45 patients are on trial for the herbal medicine which we are confident will go a long way in helping patients who are HIV positive," Muguti said.
He said preliminary results so far were encouraging as the condition of patients on the herbal therapy had improved tremendously with some opportunistic infections disappearing "I can safely say their CD4 count had increased, while viral load decreased," the deputy minister said.
"This herbal combination is very safe with no deaths recorded and side effects detected so far."
Muguti said the new development was innovative and refreshing to HIV and Aids patients, as most could not afford the prohibitive anti-retrovirals. "Local products are less expensive and readily available and this makes gundamiti a promising herbal medicine for our country," he said.
Initially, Muguti said the ministry had intended to put 50 patients on trial, but ended up getting 45. "Those who are 18 years and above qualify for the trial and these should be HIV positive," he said. "And they should not have taken any anti-retroviral therapy before."
Last year, the ministry created the department of Traditional Medicine to focus primarily on safe and rational use of herbs and other natural medicines. Muguti stressed that this was very necessary as most countries were now relied on natural medicines due to high cost of conventional drugs
"Research and alternative treatment is vital for the development of Zimbabwe. For example, China and India have produced doctors from Traditional Schools of Medicine, so the same should also happen here," he said.
The Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha) president, Gordon Chavhunduka, also praised the dawn of the herb, he also said was very effective judging by research carried out since 2002.
"Zinatha has been trying this herb for the past 4 years and I can acknowledge its effectiveness in patients, who are HIV positive," he said A few years ago, Zinatha set up a training college for traditional healers, but the project had to be shelved due to financial constraints.
Source: Partners-Zimbabwe eForum
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