Today’s Health News
Africa: Snake oil salesmen and dodgy HIV “cures”
20 January 2012
Nairobi/Johannesburg,
Uganda’s National Drug Authority recently arrested sales representatives of a company selling a drug that purports to cure HIV; the firm’s owners are not licensed to sell medicine and are being sought by the police. The drug, known as Virol ZAPPER, was being sold in 37ml liquid doses, each costing about US$210; patients were advised to take 10 drops daily. It was being advertised on local radio and TV stations as a miracle cure for HIV. The sale of such “cures” is a profitable racket for charlatans willing to take advantage of desperate HIV-positive people; here is a collection of some dodgy treatments that have made the news in Africa over the years: Tanzania – In 2011, tens of thousands of people from all over East Africa flocked to the tiny village of Loliondo in Tanzania seeking a cure for several diseases, including diabetes, tuberculosis and HIV. Ambilikile Mwasapile, a former Lutheran pastor, was charging 500 Tanzanian shillings – about $0.33 – for a cup for his concoction. Several sick people died in the queues, which at their peak numbered 15,000 people. Studies are being conducted to determine the properties of Mwasapile’s treatment. South Africa – A 2008 Cape High Court judgment ruled that clinical trials of multivitamins in the treatment of HIV/AIDS by controversial vitamin salesman Matthias Rath were unlawful, and stopped them. The court also prohibited Rath from publishing any more advertisements claiming that his product, VitaCell, cured AIDS, pending further review by the Medicines Control Council. Rath, who had been operating in South Africa since about 2004, claimed his multivitamins treated AIDS, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, bird flu and numerous other illnesses. Rath ran numerous advertisements aimed at convincing HIV-positive people to take his high-dose multivitamins rather than ARVs, available free-of-charge through the public health system, which he claimed were “toxic”.
Zimbabwe : Why it’s important to get tested
20 January 2012
Were we to conduct a random survey and ask who knows his/her HIV status among the general populace we would receive many a baffling response. Some would argue that since they are fit and healthy the need to know or undergo a test falls away. Another lot would use the bus stop gauge and say thus far no one has died from the circle of those they have been intimate with, so they are fine. Then there would be the last group that is just scared to know. One understands the fear but this needs to be overcome as it could be detrimental if left until too late. Pedzisai is a man I met over the Christmas holidays when I visited one of the nursing homes in Harare. He has been at the home for the past three months and is grateful that he was saved at the last minute. The home which depends on support from well-wishers has patients referred there by its volunteer educators. Pedzisai is aged 30 and said he was as strong as a horse before he got bed-ridden in his home area of Zhombe, Midlands, sometime in 2010. “I worked as a gold panner along the Munyati River and made enough to look after my wife and three kids. Unfortunately, I would be away from home for long periods even a month or longer which was not conducive to marriage and my family as a whole,” said Pedzisai speaking from his wheelchair. Pedzisai said at first when he engaged in extra-marital affairs he would always insist on the use of protection. “I always used protection for the first three years I was in the ‘bush’ but as the years went by, I got used to one female who also said she was ready to stop working on a commercial basis and just be mine when I was in the field panning,” said Pedzisai. Pedzisai said he did not bother to first take HIV tests together with his new “bush wife” but rather what he was concerned with was that she would not fall pregnant so he advised her to get the five-year family planning gadget inserted.
Africa : Fighting malaria through Afcon 2012
20 January 2012
United Against Malaria (UAM) in collaboration with the Malaria Control Program(NMC), the John Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programs(JHC/CCP),Voices for Malaria-Free Future and the Ghana Football Association(GFA)is expected to hold a special media event on Monday January 23, 2012 in Accra to promote advocacy for malaria elimination during the forthcoming 2012 African Cup of Nation to be hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The event is aimed at tapping into the enthusiasm and support for the Black Stars of Ghana to win the Cup of Nations and also to advocate the complete eradication of the Malaria disease on the African continent. Again, the program would see the launching and distribution of the AFCON 2012 edition of the Goal and the 13 Winning Moves Against Malaria Chart for the Public and Private Sectors. Ghana plays its first match in the AFCON 2012 tournament on 24th January 2012. Participants expected to grace the event include officials of the GFA, the National Sports Authority, members of the Ghana Media Malaria Advocacy Network (GMMAN), representatives of all print and electronic media in Ghana, private companies, National Voices and the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Malaria.
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Additional materials in the Dziwani Knowledge Centre for health
REPSSI
Mainstreaming psychosocial care and support through child participation
REPSSI
Johannesburg, South Africa
2009, 52p.
The document is a guide with a view of enhancing child participation in various interventions meant to address their needs. Particular emphasis is put on the benefits of their participation. These include increase in skills and confidence as well as bringing creativity, energy and fun to development programmes.
REPSSI
Mainstreaming psychosocial care and support within food and nutrition programmes
REPSSI
Johannesburg, South Africa
2009, 50p.
Tailored for practitioners working with children and families affected by HIV and AIDS, conflict and poverty, the key messages in the book mainly focus on the nutritional programmes and how these build children’s dignity, confidence and general well being. The book also highlights how linkages with other organisations can help in referrals for further assistance of these children.
Smith, Tricia
Understanding HIV basics
REPSSI
Johannesburg, South Africa
2009, 13p.
The manual is a third in a series called Body Maps: Bringing mind, body and community together for wellbeing. Provides information from HIV and AIDS basic terminologies to CD4 count, ART, drug classes drug resistance and adherence.
REPSSI
Psychosocial care and support for young children and infants in the time of HIV and AIDS: A resource for programming
REPSSI
Johannesburg, South Africa
2007, 78p.
Key messages in this publication include role of family care, specialised mental health services, natural resilience in children and cost-effective interventions for addressing psychosocial wellbeing in children.
REPSSI
Tracking your health: A guide to creating a tracing book
Johannesburg, South Africa
2009, 23p.
Strives to mainstream psychosocial support into health services, in this case HIV treatment provided by clinics, hospitals and home based care. The document uses the tracing book as a tool to better understand individual health. The tracing book is like a journal and one can enter things that are important in their lives. This can be used to help children better understand HIV. The use of words is not necessary as symbols take on the illustration. Parents may also use the tracing book to encourage their older children get tested for HIV but also as an important piece of information in the event of illness.
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