Don bemoans local HIV/aids research

By Pelekelo Liswaniso

A ZAMBIAN medical researcher has bemoaned the lack of indigenous research on HIV/AIDS in the country.

Dr. Ray Handema, a virologist at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and lecturer at the University of Zambia (UNZA), who was reviewing barriers in HIV/AIDS research said there is inadequate HIV/AIDS research by local researchers.

He raised the issue during a communication material development meeting convened in Siavonga, where delegates noted there were many Zambians looking for HIV/AIDS research findings.

According to Dr Handema, most HIV/AIDS research conducted in Zambia is done using foreign funding and based on foreign agenda leaving out national priorities.

“There are a lot of traditional healers who claim to have alternative remedies for HIV/AIDS management, but there is no funding available to carry out research to verify their claims,” he said.

Dr. Handema added that HIV/AIDS research findings were taken outside for analysis. For instance, a Ndola rural herbalist, Mr. Maila’s traditional concoction was taken to Japan in 2001 to verify its efficacy, where it was found to have no effect on the virus.

“Mr. Maila handed in another concoction, which he improved and would like it tested for its efficacy. We are in the process of testing to check if it can work, but we still do not have adequate funding,” he said.

Dr. Handema said local HIV/AIDS research was limited such as the research on the types and strains of the virus. Some local researchers have also conducted research on other HIV/AIDS related issues as well.

Delegates noted that most HIV/AIDS research conducted by local researchers was not addressing research needs of Zambia, especially issues that appeared to be complicated.

Delegates recommended that local researchers should reveal what they have achieved so far in the area of HIV/AIDS. The findings can be disseminated through local medical journals more frequently so that potential sponsors know about indigenous HIV/AIDS research.

It was also recommended that a resource centre should be established at National AIDS Council (NAC), which can document the findings in different formats for easier dissemination.

It was noted that there is a lot of HIV/AIDS research information about Zambia available outside the country but little in the country.

Zambian researchers were urged to identify research areas and write proposals while availing their remedies to the Ministry of Health, Central Board of Health and institutions like the (NAC) Technical Working Group on Alternative Remedies.

Chairperson of the NAC Technical Working Group on alternative remedies Dr. Patrick Chikusu announced that government had invited all those that claimed to have alternative remedies for HIV/AIDS to submit their samples for testing to determine their efficacy.