Transcript

Duration: 3 min 47 sec

KHOPOTSO: There is no scientific evidence to suggest that nutrition or traditional or complementary medicines are effective in improving the quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS, but anecdotal evidence suggests  they do work. Dr Anthony Mbewu, is Executive Director for Research at the Medical Research Council and former chairperson of the AIDS Treatment and Care Plan task team.

Dr ANTHONY MBEWU ‘€“ ‘€œThe scientific evidence that we have on the effectiveness of interventions mainly applies to anti-retroviral drugs. And that’€™s why this Plan has, as it’€™s primary intervention, the access to anti-retroviral drug therapy for people living with AIDS’€¦ However, nutrition, we know, is an important intervention in people living with AIDS, and possibly also, in people whose status has not declined to the level of severe immune deficiency’€¦ The scientific evidence for the effectiveness of nutrition interventions is lacking and the Medical Research Council’€¦ is undertaking research in that regard.’€

KHOPOTSO: Similarly, when it comes to traditional medicines the Medical Research Council is undertaking research to assess scientifically how safe and effective the medicines are in raising CD 4 counts and reducing the viral load in an infected person’€™s system.

Dr ANTHONY MBEWU ‘€“ ‘€œWe estimate that something like 80 % of the South African population as a whole uses traditional medicines and consults traditional healers. So, we were aware that it was essential in terms of the success of this Operational Plan that we, firstly, should acknowledge that patients are using traditional medicines. Often, because of the stigma associated with traditional medicines in South Africa, patients will not report that they are using a traditional medicine. And it is essential when you are instituting anti-retroviral therapy to know all the medicines the patient is taking ‘€“ traditional, complementary and orthodox ‘€“ because there can be drug-drug interactions.’€

KHOPOTSO: Dr Mbewu went on to state that despite the lack of scientific data to attest to their efficacy, the decision to integrate nutritional and traditional medicines into the Operational Plan, came about because the majority of South Africans who use the interventions are reporting good results. However, he said, there is no intention to merge the traditional health system with the public health system.

But he couldn’€™t be drawn on what type of traditional medicines the Medical Research Council is researching for AIDS treatment.

Dr ANTHONY MBEWU ‘€“ ‘€œI’€™m always very wary about naming any particular traditional medicine. The reason is because at the Medical Research Council we have a programme, which is scientifically testing traditional medicines to see if they can boost the immune system in people living with AIDS. And we test them for safety and toxicity. We recently started clinical trials in human beings’€¦ and also, we’€™ll soon be testing them in people living with AIDS to see if they work. And we’€™ve had very promising case reports of some traditional medicines, which as I say I shouldn’€™t really name, that seem to be beneficial for people living with AIDS. But it’€™s very important that these claims should be scientifically tested.’€        

KHOPOTSO: When treatment roll-out for AIDS kicks in late in 2004, each of the 53 000 people targeted for treatment will have the option of either accessing anti-retrovirals, or nutritional interventions or even traditional medicines when they present at any of the service points envisaged in 53 of the country’€™s health districts. According to Dr Nono Simelela, head of the TB, STIs and HIV/AIDS Directorate in the Department of Health, an all-out effort on all fronts is required.  

Dr NONO SIMELELA ‘€“ ‘€œWe’€™re hitting with all guns ‘€“ prevention, vaccine, drugs, nutrition ‘€“ everything that we can find we are throwing at this virus.’€  

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