Ssebaana roots for herbs in AIDS fight
Dec 03, 2007
LEADERS should encourage the use of local herbs in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, John Ssebaana Kizito has suggested. Ssebaana, the patron of Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders in Africa to fight HIV/AIDS (AMICAALL), urged medical personnel to jointly work with traditional doctors in the fight aga
By Emmanuel Kajubu
LEADERS should encourage the use of local herbs in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, John Ssebaana Kizito has suggested. Ssebaana, the patron of Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders in Africa to fight HIV/AIDS (AMICAALL), urged medical personnel to jointly work with traditional doctors in the fight against the AIDS epidemic.
“Herbs bring relief to those infected with HIV. As long as the herbs are not poisonous, they should be utilised,†he said at the opening of a workshop for mayors from central and western Uganda at Kenneth Inn in Fort portal.
Ssebaana said some people living with HIV/AIDS could not afford anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) yet herbs were being destroyed in villages.
“There should not be focus on ARVs alone which are very expensive. Herbs are also vital in healing some of the disease associated with HIV.â€
Ssebaana urged leaders to get involved in the HIV/AIDS fight, saying the rate at which the virus is spread in urban areas is higher than that in villages.
“We can’t get rid of AIDS without the help of urban leaders.†He warned employers against discriminating employees living with HIV/AIDS.
The vice-chairperson of AMICAALL, Winnie Makumbi, appealed to district authorities to support HIV/AIDS projects set up by municipal councils.
LEADERS should encourage the use of local herbs in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, John Ssebaana Kizito has suggested. Ssebaana, the patron of Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders in Africa to fight HIV/AIDS (AMICAALL), urged medical personnel to jointly work with traditional doctors in the fight against the AIDS epidemic.
“Herbs bring relief to those infected with HIV. As long as the herbs are not poisonous, they should be utilised,†he said at the opening of a workshop for mayors from central and western Uganda at Kenneth Inn in Fort portal.
Ssebaana said some people living with HIV/AIDS could not afford anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) yet herbs were being destroyed in villages.
“There should not be focus on ARVs alone which are very expensive. Herbs are also vital in healing some of the disease associated with HIV.â€
Ssebaana urged leaders to get involved in the HIV/AIDS fight, saying the rate at which the virus is spread in urban areas is higher than that in villages.
“We can’t get rid of AIDS without the help of urban leaders.†He warned employers against discriminating employees living with HIV/AIDS.
The vice-chairperson of AMICAALL, Winnie Makumbi, appealed to district authorities to support HIV/AIDS projects set up by municipal councils.