Seven Herbalists in Another Search for HIV/Aids Cure

INSPIRED BY the late Nana Kofi Drobo of the Kwaku Firi Shrine at Nwoase in the Brong Ahafo Region, seven Ghanaian herbalists of repute have decided to pool their resources and do an extensive research work to discover an effective plant medicine for the treatment of HIV.

The late Nana Drobo reportedly came close to the discovery of a cure for AIDS.

The herbalists are Dr. Evangelist Peter Elia (Sunyani), P.K. Aboagye (Wenchi), Nana Owusu Agyemang, Dr. Kusi Baffoe, Prince Nketia and Twum Amoabeng, with Dr. Samuel Ampomah as the chairman of the research team.

Each of the named herbalists has already explored the causes of the dreaded disease and has come out with tested herbal preparations for the treatment of the virus.

Poised to take the credit for an AIDS cure, the team has already converged at Dr. Ampomah's Herbal Clinic at Abuakwa-Maakro, near Kumasi, to find a common formula for the treatment of HIV.

Ampomah, the spokesman, said the team is determined to work and put Ghana ahead in the global search for a cure for the disease.

He explained that HIV is an infection and like all other infections it could be treated.

Ampomah said having identified the sources of infection and causative agents, the team of dedicated herbalists was sure to come out with a potent formula for HIV treatment.

The team blamed the Ministry of Health (MOH) for not encouraging Ghanaian herbalists all these years in their bid to find a solution to the AIDS menace.

"We have not made any appreciable headway because of frustrations on the part of the government (MOH)," the spokesman said, and called for governmental support in the area of proper co-ordination by a medical team from the MOH.

The team has already asked the government to provide it with about 20 AIDS patients to prove their claim.

Dr. Peter Elia of the New Era Herbal Centre (Sunyani) and member of the research team pointed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an impediment to efforts at finding a cure for AIDS.

According to Elia, WHO is looking for treatment, instead of a cure, and that WHO's stand is in itself an obstacle to their research efforts.

Mr. P.K. Aboagye, secretary to the team, who had a stint with the late high priest of Kwaku Firi, Nana Drobo, for years, has called for transparency among the herbalists who would be operational at Sunyani and Kumasi.

Meanwhile, the Vice-President of the Ghana National Association of Traditional Healers, Mr. J.K. Oduro, has commended the team for the bold decision in the face of frustrations.

He called for co-operation of medical doctors whose assistance, he said, would be needed to examine patients and give accurate and reliable reports before, during and after treatment.