Zambia, which the United Nations estimated that one in six Zambians have HIV/AIDS, has more than 40,000 traditional healers whereas western doctors are only estimated at 1,000. Traditional healers are comprised, among others, of diviners, herbalists, spiritualists and traditional birth attendants. Some healers however, are believed to have been introduced to traditional medicine by their ancestors while others learnt the trade from the spirits of their dead forefathers. A few traditional health providers have also been introduced to traditional medication by studying various plants and trees. Traditional medicine, according to the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia's (THPAZ) definition is: the total of all proved and unproved knowledge and practices handed down from generation to generation, orally or in writing, used in the correction of mental, physical, spiritual and social imbalances.
THPAZ President Dr. Rodwell Vongo once said that “Both the Western and traditional health providers have their own weaknesses and strengths, hence the need to collaborate both practices. Given the present financial constraints, most Third World countries, including Zambia, cannot afford to import all essential drugs and equipment, hence the need to include traditional medicine in our health planning”.
Quite recently clinical trials were carried out by the National Aids Council (NAC) on the effectiveness of Herbal Remedies on the cure of HIV/AIDS. The trial conformed to WHO guidelines and out of the 79 Herbs that were presented for research, only four qualified to be researched, namely Mayeyanin Formulation, Sondashi Formulation made by former Works and Supply Minister and Constitutional Lawyer Dr. Ludwig Sondashi, the Mailacin Formulation made by a School Teacher, and the Ngoma Formulation. However, the Ngoma Formulation could not be analyzed because the owner/founder died before the research commenced. 26 people infected with HIV were enrolled in the study/trial, out of which 11 were on Mayeyanin Formula, 10 on Sondashi Formula and 5 on Mailacin Formula. The objectives of the research were aimed at determining whether the herbs were safe for human use and ascertain whether they could eliminate the virus from the human body as to amount to a cure. The Herbalists claimed that their herbal remedies could completely cure HIV/AIDS within a period of 3 Months. Unfortunately, based on the findings, the report concluded that the herbal remedies/medicines that were under study did not cure HIV/AIDS. The research covered a six month period, from November 2005 to April 2006 (which was more than the three month period that herbalists claimed their remedies could cure HIV/AIDS on the test participants). The parameters used to access the effectiveness and toxicity of the herbs were the viral load, CD 4 count and observing any side effects. The report on safety stated that the herbal remedies tested were safe for human consumption because none of the 26 participants died and that no side effects were observed.
According to Health Minister, Angela Cifire, the six month trial conducted among the 26 might be an effective method of prolonging the lives of people who are HIV positive but were not effective ones. The principal investigator of the clinical trials of traditional medicine
Dr. Patrick Chikusu said that each of the formulations is safe to use and that each has shown evidence of reducing HIV viral loads and increasing the number of CD 4 + T Cells. Many professionals have lamented that science is years from finding a cure and presently the only known effective treatment are Anti-Retroviral Drugs otherwise known as ARVs. Others have said that the sample of 26 people was not large enough to be a “proper clinical trial” and that six months was not adequate enough for such a study on finding an HIV/AIDS cure.
Very recently, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh said that he can cure HIV/AIDS in three days. He claimed that he began treating patients with secret medicinal herb ingredients which are taken orally and applied to the body. His health minister Tamsir Mbow supports his claim, saying that in trials so far, patients had gained weight and physically improved. President Jammeh, who says he can also cure asthma, made his announcement to a gathering of foreign diplomats in January 2007. One of the patients who underwent treatment is Gambian university lecturer Ousman Sowe. Sowe claims that he had gained substantial weight during his 10 days of treatment and he is no longer suffering from constipation. Sowe has yet to receive test results but he has 100% confidence in the president and his medication.
Well, for now we can only hope that a cure or vaccine will be found either by traditional doctors or from western doctors. But the best thing to do now is to stay faithful to our partners, abstain from sexual intercourse until the right time which is in marriage or to use condoms so as to test negative for HIV/AIDS!!
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