Persons with HIV advised to stop using herbs

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Arua City Health Officer, Dr. Pontious Apangu, has advised persons living with HIV against the temptation of using herbal medicine instead of Anti-Retroviral Drugs.

The call comes at a time when the City is striving to lower further the prevalence of HIV, which stands at 4.4 percent, amid complaints that herbalists and some religious leaders are hampering the effort.

Judith Bako, the deputy Resident City Commissioner for Arua Central Division, noted that many persons living with HIV are being deceived into abandoning their ARVs by some religious leaders who claim that they can be healed through prayers.

Bako also called upon the responsible authorities against licensing herbalists who she said are persuading people living with HIV to use herbs instead of ARVs.

Luke Candia, a person living with HIV in Ayivu Village acknowledged that many people on ARVs have abandoned their medication for herbal medication. He cites a person living with HIV who died in April this year after she stopped taking her ARVs but was spending 150,000 shillings weekly on herbal medicine from Congo.

Candia also expressed concern over myths being spread by some religious leaders that they can be healed through prayers.

Dr. Apangu explained that the Ministry of Health has not identified any herb that is scientifically proven and known to treat HIV globally.

Dr. Apangu also advised the public to always seek health care from a qualified and certified health worker if they have any health-related challenges.

He advised the community and local leaders to monitor the people who claim to be providing health and report them to the authorities,” Dr. Apangu said.  “We see very many people coming here in the name of healing. Others say they are religious experts…but they are treated in someone’s house. They are treated in a clinic without a label. So we must report to them.”

Dr. Apangu also urged the health workers to give up-to-date health education each time patients are there in the facilities, and be present, even when there are no drugs at the health facilities.

A study published by the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine in June 2024, indicates that the use of herbal medicine among people living with HIV is as high as 90 percent.

The study notes that the people’s belief in herbal medicine is strong to the extent that some individuals would quit antiretroviral therapy (ART) for herbal medicine, especially when they develop chronic medical conditions and the HIV infection progresses.

However, the same study emphasizes that despite the prevailing usage of herbal medicine, it has no substantial effect on viral suppression.

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