LUSAKA, Oct 19 (AFP) - Zambia on Wednesday began a three-month trial of traditional medicines on 25 HIV patients to test claims that they could cure the deadly virus.
Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said the government would use World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines in the clinical trials of three traditional drugs confectioned by traditional medical practitioners.
"We expect the results of this historical clinical trials in three months," Masebo said.
The 25 HIV carriers will be taking the traditional medicines at secret locations where they will be monitored by a group of medical experts before the results are announced.
Zambia is expected to spend about 56,000 dollars in various clinical trials of traditional drugs whose owners claim that they can cure the virus that cause AIDS.
One of the drugs on trial is the popular "Sondashi therapy," formulated by former works and supply minister, Ludwig Sondashi, who is also a prominent constitutional lawyer.
Some 920,000 Zambians are living with AIDS and HIV, or one in six adults, according to the UN AIDS agency, and the pandemic has left 600,000 children orphaned, most of whom live on the streets.
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