adminWe have seen an increase in the number of people afflicted by various cancers, ailments connected to hypertension as well as diabetes including some public personalities.
No social class or age group has been spared from the ravages of various diseases. Access to acceptable health services remains the preserve of the privileged with the majority of the population having to put up with the inadequate public system. Most of these diseases are chronic and painful and the conventional medicines used to treat them can have some very uncomfortable side effects. Other ailments are life-threatening and there is no certainty of recovery through the use of conventional treatments.
This has led to many people opting for alternative treatments in the hope that whatever disease will be afflicting them will go away.
Instead of accepting that they have a condition for which they will have to take treatment for life, many are tempted by the promise that it can all be made to go away through the use of a few herbs.
Unscrupulous dealers have decided to cash in on the desperation of the suffering to offer “miraculous” medicines that will do everything for everyone.
With the promise of an instant cure many people are spending their hard earned cash in buying these concoctions and some are even going to the extent of rejecting conventional medications including ARVs in preference of the “miraculous” options.
In one documented case the National Aids Council (NAC) and the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare had to issue stern warnings to the leadership of a network for people living with HIV to stop them encouraging their members to buy herbal supplements instead of adhering to their ART programmes.
The move by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) to ban the selling of all manner of unlicenced substances as medicines is long overdue. It has now become very common to come across adverts of these substances all over.
Fliers in the streets and bills posted all over town have been added to the traditional form of newspaper adverts. Many of the adverts claim that those interested can get treatment for cancer, fibroids, infertility, weight loss, weight gain, hypertension and diabetes.
The purported treatments come in tablets or liquid form and the labels also carry the spurious claims to miracle healing.
The use of the word “natural” in most of these adverts is misleading people into believing that the “medicines” have no side effects at all yet no studies have verified any of the stated claims. There is need for effective legislative instruments to ensure that the people who are behind these scams are brought to book. Punishment has to be very deterrent as these callous people have no second thoughts on trifling with people’s lives, as they search for wealth through any means possible.
The Government needs to act swiftly and decisively as ultimately the cost of these fake cure-alls will be inflicted on our over burdened health delivery system. People who default on conventional treatment for some diseases ultimately develop secondary stages of the ailment which need more expensive forms of medications.
But while the state has a part to play, every individual needs to take responsibility for their own health. We are the ones who need to stop believing in unproven miracles and deal responsibly with any illnesses that
may have afflicted us. Even though everyone has a right to seek the best possible treatment, rushing out to try any new product which has not been certified by the Ministry is as good as gambling with your own life.
One should ask themselves if there are no more ill people in the countries from which these “cures” are being imported if they are so effective.
Most medical practitioners have nothing against the use of alternative treatments but it is important for the patient to consult with the medical service provider before taking any other medicines.
While there is no perfect one size fits all formula for longevity and good health, there are accepted general guidelines to improved health that everyone -whether afflicted or not should, should aim to live by.
Sticking to a sensible diet, getting exercise of some sort on a regular basis, avoiding smoking and temperance are some of the things that everyone needs to make a part of their lifestyle.
Online Reporter