Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) - February 15, 2006
Government backs free will
South Africa's Ministry of Health has put its support behind people choosing to use traditional HIV/Aids treatments instead of scientifically proven anti-retroviral drugs.
Although the Democratic Alliance was concerned about the dangers untested herbal remedies might pose to HIV-positive people, the ministry was firm in its decision that people should be allowed to choose for themselves.
"The Ministry of Health is determined to defend and promote indigenous knowledge systems, because we believe that traditional medicines and traditional health practitioners have an important role to play in the health system of the country," said ministerial spokesperson Sibani Mngadi.
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