A highly effective treatment promoted through images claims to show remedies that permanently cure HIV/AIDS. Be cautious! These so-called treatments are neither recognized nor accepted by disease specialists or the World Health Organization (WHO).
A Facebook post from February 17, 2022, claims to show a definitive cure for HIV, viral, and metabolic diseases through a medication derived from traditional Cameroonian medicine, which it falsely states is 100% effective.
As the post claims: “URGENT! DEFINITIVE CURE FOR HIV/AIDS.” Be wary of this information, as it is not based on any proof.
The Fact-Checking Editorial Team of the Association of Fact-Checkers of the Central African Republic (AFC) took on the task of verifying this seemingly reassuring and hopeful information. In the process of fact-checking, AFC interviewed Augustin Dibert, a health promotion advisor for WHO in the Central African Republic, who debunked these claims:
“Be very careful. How many people have declared that they can cure HIV/AIDS, only for us to find out later that they were simply taking advantage of people’s situations to make money. WHO is not against traditional medicine; we even have a department that deals with traditional medicine. However, traditional practitioners must work hand in hand with certified doctors who can confirm or inform the effects of their products. Don’t trust such publications, which may disrupt those already on ANTIRETROVIRAL (ARV) treatment, who are doing well, and some of whom have even been declared negative.” He concluded.
Dr. Marie Chaulette Santhas Sana, Director of the Fight Against Communicable Diseases, added: “This treatment is not recognized, and we don’t even know the exact dosage of these medications. However, ARVs are proven effective, which is why it’s not advised to take traditional medicines because they undermine faith in the treatment. To date, there is no scientifically proven treatment that can definitively cure HIV/AIDS, and even traditional treatments and ARVs only suppress the virus, with a definitive cure being possible for those who consistently follow their treatments.”
Further consultation of the official WHO website confirms that HIV remains a major global public health issue, having caused more than 36.3 million deaths [27.2-47.8 million] to date. There is no cure for HIV infection. However, thanks to better access to effective prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, including for opportunistic infections, HIV infection has become a manageable chronic condition with the possibility of living a long and healthy life. At the end of 2020, an estimated 37.7 million people [30.2 to 45.1 million] were living with HIV, with more than two-thirds (25.4 million) in the WHO African Region.
Princia Florence YALLA / AFC Fact-checking Editorial Team
Do you find any information or images suspicious? Contact our editorial team at 00236 74 02 15 70 / 75 81 61 38 / 75 38 11 73, or email us at [email protected].
