Zimbabwe: The "Prophet" Aid for Cure Furore

Marcus Mushonga

Harare – ZIMBABWEANS for antiretroviral (ARV) treatment is urged to pursue the prescribed medication and ignore the controversial church leadership's suggestions that he has discovered the cure for HIV and AIDS.

The South African country frowned in recent days after self-proclaimed prophet Walter Magaya stunned his claim.

The founder of the Department of Prophetic Healing and Outbreak (PHD) was a local herbal remedy for Aguma, which was the cure for Aguma.

Magaya (aged 35) claimed to work with the government to undertake some laboratory tests and seek WHO to endorse "healing".

WHO, however, rejected these claims by the extravagant church man.

"There is no cure for HIV infection," said Dr. Alex Gasasira, WHO Representative in Zimbabwe.

Gasasira therefore urged Zimbabweans not to require prescribed ARV treatment.

The United Nations HIV / AIDS Program (UNAIDS) estimates that Zimbabwe has more than 1.3 million people living with HIV / AIDS. More than 1.1 is in ARV treatment.

"Effective ARVs are able to control the virus and prevent transmission to ensure that people with HIV and high risk can enjoy a healthy, long and productive life," Gasasira said.

The UN has committed itself to supporting Zimbabwe by halting AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.