Self-styled herbalist producing HIV/AIDS concoction arrested

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - The management of Food and Drugs Board (FDB) on Monday ordered Mr Nicholas Antwi, a 63-year-old self-styled herbalist, to stop producing concoction claimed to cure chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS, fibroid, syphilis and tuberculosis.

The concoction, yellowish in colour, has been bottled in one litre plastic bottle with no direction on its use, content, expiry or manufacturing date.

Dr Stephen Opuni, Chief Executive Officer of FDB, who led the team to inspect and lock up the production centre in Accra, said he spotted a building on the main Kumasi-Konongo road at Nkubem with an inscription inviting HIV/AIDS patients and people with chronic disease to be cured.

"I followed the sign post to the place and asked him if he was operating legally. Upon questioning I found out that his medicines has not been subjected to any scientific scrutiny," he said.

Dr Opuni noted that it was an offence for any individual or persons to advertise that certain medicines could cure some disease including diabetes, blood pressure, and asthma.

He said primary test and confessions made by the herbalist indicated that the concoction was not herbal as he claimed.

"Contents of the concoction are streptomycin a medicine used to cure tuberculosis, gentamycin, a substance used to treat bacteria and sulpthiazole (M&B 760) which cannot in anyway cure a disease like tuberculosis," he said.

Dr Opuni advised the public to ensure that they purchased medicines from only approved premises, licensed chemical shops and pharmacies, since these places were licensed premises being manned by qualified personnel.

"Drugs should be sold under a certain temperature and selling them on the open market can affect their potency even if their efficacy is standard," Dr Opuni said.

He assured the public of FDB's readiness to protect public health and safety and appealed to them to desist from buying drugs which had no English labeling and stickers.

Dr Opuni urged the media to verify with the FDB before advertising drugs, foods and cosmetic products and report persons suspected to be in any practice that could endanger public health and safety.

Mr Antwi, briefing the media, said he had no clearance from FDB or the Traditional Medical Practitioners Council (TMPC) to produce the concoction.

"Since the past five years of operation in the country, I have no idea that a body had been set up to certify and give clearance to herbalists," he said.