Ejisu (Ash), May 4, GNA - A Ghanaian herbalist has stated categorically that if Ghana would have to succeed in effectively checking the HIV/AIDS pandemic, priority would have to be given to the development and improvement of herbal medicine rather that over concentrating on orthodox drugs.

Mr Kamara Agyapong, Director of the Peace Herbal Centre, Ejisu, said this is because apart from being potent for management and cure of HIV, most of the HIV herbal medicines have no side effects. This apart, HIV Herbal medicines are easily accessible and comparably cheaper than the orthodox medicine, like anti-retroviral drugs used for HIV patients, he added.

Mr Agyapong made the statement in an exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency at his Herbal Centre at Ejisu Zongo on Tuesday, on achievements so far made in his research for management and cure of HIV patients.

Mr Agyapong, who has been in the herbal medicinal practice for the past 20 years, has developed an herbal concoction, known as "Koankro" for the treatment of HIV, and currently administers it to eight patients.

The venture is being carried out in collaboration with the Department of Bio-Chemistry of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), with the centre administering treatment, while KNUST conducts tests to ascertain viability and potency of the concoction.

He said even though various laboratory tests and scientific analysis at the KNUST showed the potency of Koankro, and other herbal preparations for management of HIV, a section of the public still have doubts about its efficiency, because it has not yet been scientifically certified.

Mr Agyapong observed that what was now needed was Viral Load CD Count Machine, which is an equipment required by the Laboratory to certify efficiency of Koankro herbal medicine and therefore, appealed to Government and other philanthropists to assist the herbal centre and the Bio-Chemistry Department of KNUST with the machine.

The Director disagreed with a section of the public that since herbal preparations are normally said to cure several ailments, the medicine was not potent or was ineffective.

Mr Agyapong stressed, "Herbal preparations are manufactured from pure herbs, which have several and a variety of ingredients within them, and can therefore, genuinely cure and treat numerous diseases".