HID Prescribes Herbal Cure For HIV/AIDS

By Sade Oguntola - 23.02.2008

The Matriach of the Awolowo family and Yeye Oodua, Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D. Awolowo, has called for more research into herbs and other plant materials in order that a cure may be found for HIV.

Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo said this at a special lecture organised by Starfish Project, Centre for Special Studies, Sagamu, in collaboration with Dideolu Specialist Hospital, Ikene, titled, ‘Emerging Trends in Complementary and Alternative Therapies with Emphasis on Traditional Medicine” at the hospital’s premises on Friday.

Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo, represented at the occasion by her personal sectectary, Miss Chinwe Ndubusi, said, “The use of herbs and plants to cure diverse diseases has been with us right from creation and the case should not be different with HIV/AIDS pandemic.”

According to her, “We Africans are adequately endowed and hence, we should use everything at our disposal to tackle and find a lasting and permanent solution to this ruthless virus called HIV.”

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Abiodun Oduwole, the chairman at the lecture, said despite all that had been done in caring for persons with the virus, the role and contribution of traditional medicine cannot be ruled out.

Dr. Oduwole said the efficacy of many herbs for different ailments had been proved and nobody could say whether its cure may not come from herbs, hence the need for more research by medical experts.

The guest lecturer, Prof. Tony Elujoba, declared that even now, an effective health agenda for persons with HIV in Africa could be best fast-tracked by complementing orthodox medicine with traditional medicine.

While declaring that there was a need to integrate traditional medical practice into HIV national programmes for its economical values, Prof. Elujoba affirmed that there was a possibility to get a cure for it from herbs.