MoHW pours cold water on HIV healing claims
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday August 31, 2017 16:26
The warning comes as more ‘fire’ churches take to social media claiming to have witnessed the healing of HIV/AIDS.
Some have even posted documents purporting to be the “before and after” results of healed believers. In one such post, a woman said she had been living with HIV for four years, but had been delivered by pastors at a church who told her the disease was caused by demons.
“I was then delivered from the spirit of ancestors. I received the declaration and my faith was uplifted. On August 15, I went for another check-up and the results came out HIV negative,” the woman said in a Facebook post that has gone viral. However, Health permanent secretary, Shenaaz El-Halabi told Mmegi that a negative HIV test, after initially testing positive, was not necessarily proof of being healed.
“Some HIV positive people can actually have a negative HIV rapid test result after being on Antiretroviral Therapy for a number of years, not meaning that they are cured from HIV,” she said.
“The tests commonly used to diagnose HIV detect the antibodies produced by the body as a reaction to the presence of the virus.
“So, if someone’s treatment has been successful, this means that the amount of viruses in his/her body (blood) has been reduced to a very low level for a long time and the body will no longer sense the presence of the viruses (because they are in very small amount/undetectable) and will no longer produce enough antibodies to be detected by the tests.
“Hence the test may be negative, but the person can still transmit the infection and if the person stops treatment for some time, the amount of viruses will rise again to detectable levels, which will lead to the deterioration of his/her health.”
El-Halabi said the ministry’s focus in the matter was on education and sensitisation of the population through various means including the media, health talks, pamphlets, and brochures.
She called upon partners, including the media, to re-emphasise the importance of adherence to treatment. “Such beliefs contribute to patients defaulting on ARVs, especially people who have misconceptions about HIV/AIDS,” she said.
The permanent secretary said continuous efforts were being made to work with faith based organisations, civic society and traditional leaders who all cascade information to society.
“Taking medications and living a healthy lifestyle is the responsibility of every patient,” she said.