Traditional practitioners asked to pool resources for AIDS research

Koforidua, Dec.22, GNA- Mr Joseph Kwaku Ankamah, Eastern Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture, has asked traditional medical practitioners to pool resources to carry out research on the efficacy of herbal preparations in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. This he said would end claims and counter claims of the ability of herbalists to heal People Living With AIDS.

Mr Ankamah made the call at a day's seminar on the: "Elimination of Cultural Practices That Contribute To The Spread Of HIV/AIDS, at Koforidua on Tuesday.

District Cultural Officers, community opinion leaders and traditional medical practitioners attended the seminar.

Mr Ankamah noted that herbalists were not making headway in the certification of their products for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, due to the mistrust and fear that their patent rights would not be respected. A Lecturer at the School of Performing Arts, Legon, Mr Sandy Arkhurst recommended the use of drama and other theatrical works to effect behavioural changes needed to reduce the spread of the pandemic. The Regional HIV/AIDS officer, Dr. Sampson B. Ofori, observed that research had so far shown that traditional products could only reduce the opportunistic infections of HIV/AIDS and not curative.