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South Africa's Ministry of Health has put its support behind people choosing to use traditional HIV/AIDS treatments instead of scientifically proven antiretroviral drugs.
Although the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party was concerned about the dangers that 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," ministerial spokesperson Sibani Mngadi told the South African Press Association.
The opposition Democratic Alliance party has warned that any fatalities resulting from the promotion of untested treatments would rest solely on the conscience of Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions