Tue, 09 May 2017 12:30:23 +0000
By ANNIE ZULU
GOVERNMENT has warned herbalists and the so-called prophets to stop advising those on antiretroviral therapy to discontinue taking the drugs.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Kennedy Malama reiterated that there was no cure for HIV yet and that it was not true that those prayed for completely got cured from HIV/AIDS.
Dr Malama said stopping patients from taking their ARVs was a setback to scores made in fighting the pandemic.
The warning comes after background of advertisements in the media by herbalists and multiplication of Churches led by ‘miracle-performing prophets’ claiming that they could cure HIV.
In an interview with the Daily Nation Dr Malama noted that not taking medication was becoming one of the major causes of death among people living with HIV.
“Such advertisements are “dangerous” as they urge HIV/AIDS patients to take supplements instead of antiretroviral treatment and this could result in unnecessary loss of life,
“Some people have stopped taking their antiretroviral treatment after accepting as true claims made on the adverts that supplements from certain “doctors” are better than antiretroviral treatment.
He said that the people making such claims were impeding the strategies implemented and progress made for years in fighting the disease.
“The claims have no basis and are wrong. They have to come to an end as soon as possible to protect the public to whose lives we have been entrusted,” he said.
Dr Malama said the ministry would take action against the people since they had continued to disseminate their false claims despite being warned to stop.
He said the ministry had engaged community health workers and chiefs to warn people in the localities about the false advertisements.
“We have distributed information, education and communication material which stresses the importance of antiretroviral treatment in the survival of HIV/AIDS patients in health centres across the country.
“Because HIV has no cure, we encourage those who are already on antiretroviral treatment to continue to take their medication and follow instructions from health practitioners,” he said.
