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University reacts to herbal AIDS cure claims

South Africa's University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has distanced itself from the controversy surrounding traditional healer Zeblon Gwala's 'immune booster', Ubhejane.

Gwala quoted research from UKZN to support claims that his product was a cure for HIV/AIDS.

The South African Press Association quoted UKZN's head of traditional medicines research, Professor Nceba Gqaleni, as saying, "These comments are unfounded and misrepresent findings of preliminary research on Ubhejane at the university."

Although the university is probing the efficacy of the herbal mixture against AIDS, a senior researcher stated that no benefits to HIV-positive people have been proven.

Main opposition political party, the Democratic Alliance, have laid charges of fraud and contravention of legislation regulating the safety and efficacy of medicines against Gwala.


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

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