A RENOWNED Kumasi herbalist, Dr. Samuel Ampomah, has requested the government to avail 20 HIV/AIDS patients to a team of herbalists currently researching into defences of the virus which causes AIDS.

He said the patients will help with a test of the efficacy of a herbal preparation for the fight against the virus.

Dr. Ampomah, who is the chairman of a select team of herbalists, would use the herbal preparation on people who test positive for AIDS over a period of time.

He disclaimed a cure for AIDS. "A cure for AIDS is yet to be found," he explained.

He explained that the proposed exercise is to fight the virus and that the team is not claiming a cure for AIDS.

"Our efforts might lead to a possible cure for the disease," he told a meeting of herbalists at Sunyani recently.

Dr. Ampomah said the team would like a medical doctor or a physician attached to the Ampomah Clinic to examine the HIV/AIDS patients before, during and after treatment.

The doctors would also help keep proper records and conduct clinical tests at periodic intervals to ascertain the efficacy of the herbal preparations.

He stressed that the herbal preparation is basically made of herbs. "The team of researchers are using mainly herbs for the treatment of the virus and called for public support and governmental assistance in this direction.