Scratching itching backs along journies

The truth is that all countries on this globe are embarked on a journey to an unchartered future. As such, if two or more countries scratch each other’s itching economic backs — such as Zimbabwe’s right now due to infestation with Western-imposed sanctions bacteria — the affected nations are bound to maintain a foot-and mental-hold on the root toward a bold new future for its people with dialogue, tolerance, peace, unity and hard work as guiding principles.

If the back scratching is reciprocated on a regional basis, such as the Southern African development Community, the grouping is bound to enjoy solidarity which strengthens the statehoods of member states.

It is a common and universal truth that at their birth as free and independent states, Sadc countries — and other free nations elsewhere in Africa and beyond — did not bear the DNA of their former colonial powers, although some people might claim that the languages of former foreign colonising states that remain as official languages in independent states are such examples of the DNAs in point.

The truth, however, is that languages of colonising powers were superimposed by colonialists to denigrate indigenous languages and instead serve as the lingua franca of the colonial era and in a way making local languages appear inferior to Africans to this very day.

To be sure, a common desire for selfdetermination was the revolutionary spirit that united Africans in their quest for freedom and independence even in those countries where blazing AK 47s or other guns did not provide the signature tune to influence the struggle for selfemancipation.

A dearth or virtual extinction of that unity of purpose in Zimbabwe today as well as in other countries has flung the door wide open to contemporary imperialists to intervene in the affairs of independent, smaller or weaker states as we experience in Zimbabwe today with foreign countries trying to make themselves our god fathers by dictating the way we conduct our affairs politically and economically.

The same lack of political cohesion has seen some power hungry leaders going beyond many waters and shamelessly scavenging the black market for political pot-bellies to graft onto their own kwashiorkored images in hopes of luring the masses to carry them shoulder high and into power where they are wont to entrench themselves until senility or heartbeat failure intervenes.

The national dialogue now under way in Zimbabwe and in which politicians, church people, professionals and all other citizens are stakeholders seems in this pen to be the only way to achieve consensus vis-a-vis national unity, peace and unimpeded economic, social and political development for the good of our nation as a whole.

The deputy chief secretary to the President, communicologist Mr George Charamba, could not have done more in explaining the plurality of those who must engage in the national dialogue when talking to the Zimpapers’ Star FM radio programme, the Minister’s Desk on Monday; otherwise some sceptics might raise barricades against the current dialogical discourse, fearing that it was the ruling party, Zanu-PF’s courtship for marriage with the opposition MDC Alliance in order to turn Zimbabwe into a party state under which democracy would be stifled if not silenced altogether as has happened in one-party dictatorships elsewhere around the globe.

In short, the destiny of this nation lies squarely on the shoulders of every patriotic Zimbabwean as a stakeholder and not on puppets of foreigners who love our country primarily for purposes of exploiting, and carting back to their native countries, rich mineral resources pulsating in Zimbabwe’s belly.

While we are at it, kudos are due to the African Development Bank which has expressed its commitment to helping our country in overcoming the current economic stalemate and to the United Nations for the world body’s expressed willingness to assist this country in view of the drought situation which threatens wide spread food shortages and famine.

It is also to be hoped that like Botswana, other Sadc member states as well as other African Union countries will line up with the assistance that this country desires during our economic distress. VITAMINS, herbs and dietary supplements have long been used by people living with HIV to help manage the side effects of their therapies or improve their general health. In fact, studies suggest that almost 70 percent of people living with HIV and about half the general population use some form of complementary therapy.

However, the past week has been awash with shocking statistics on the number of people that default on taking their antiretroviral drugs as prescribed.

An article in this paper reported that about 4 000 HIV positive people in Bulawayo are on second and third line of antiretroviral therapy (ART) after defaulting from the recommended first line regimen. 4 000 is a staggering number for one city.

According to health experts, people on ART must adhere to the medication for life as defaulting may give HIV a chance to multiply and become resistant to the drugs.

Defaulting also increases their risk of spreading the virus to the next person.

According to the National Aids Council (Nac), most people move to other lines of treatment due to defaulting.

We are all obliged to do what is right. Let us encourage family members to take their medication as prescribed by the doctors all the time. Whether it’s for diabetes, hypertension, asthma, arthritis or whatever the condition, it is wiser to follow a doctor’s orders or seek the opinion of another medical practitioner if you are not happy with a particular doctor.

Bulawayo has 74 237 HIV positive people. Statistics from the organisation show that 68 270 people are on first line of ART while 3 969 are on second and third lines.

“We have a total of 3 969 people on the second line of ART regimen in Bulawayo and 35 on the third line. This means we have people who are defaulting and risking their health by stopping medication whenever they feel cured,” reads a document from the National Aids Council. .

Bulawayo has a HIV prevalence of 14,3 percent which is slightly higher than the 13,7 percent national prevalence.

Of the total number of those on second and third line regimen, women and girls account for more than 50 percent.

People who are currently on anti-retroviral therapy (ART), and those who will be initiated on ART, should take their medicines as prescribed by health personnel.

People have often defaulted on medication due to religious beliefs and taking health supplements that are believed to cure HIV. However, there is no known cure yet for HIV.

Some people have quit taking their medication after pastors have promised to cure their illnesses, while some have believed in some heavily marketed herbal remedies and dietary supplements which make dangerous claims which can have detrimental effects on people’s health.

Most of the products that are marketed as cures for HIV must be questioned as they would most likely not have been approved by regulatory authorities in the country.

Any medicines that are said to cure HIV have to go through quality assurance and get the necessary approvals by the regulatory authorities in accordance with the laws of Zimbabwe. The National Aids Council has numerously issued warnings on the dangers of defaulting on medication.

“It has come to the National Aids Council’s attention that there are drugs and herbs being sold in the country as a cure for HIV and Aids. Some of these drugs are being smuggled into the country and others are locally made.

“These have not been tested and approved by experts. It is not advisable to take them.”

We do not encourage the use of herbs or traditional medicines together with antiretroviral drugs. ARVs on their own are very effective in the treatment of HIV infections and they do not need any assistance from herbs or other medicines provided they are taken correctly as per advise from the health workers,” said Ms Tadiwa Nyatanga, the Public Relations Manager for the National Aids Council recently.

Most of these herbs are toxic and have not been tested in proper laboratories to assess efficacy, proper dosages and safety. There are reports of patients who are suffering from organ damage due to use of these herbs.

The organs commonly affected are the liver and kidney and deaths have occurred due to failure of these vital organs as a result of use of these herbs and supplements, which are not registered with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.

A number of people are confused and attracted by the way some of these herbs are packaged and marketed so they think they are registered and approved for use by regulatory authorities.

“Nac is not aware of any such clinical trials locally or globally that have been conducted showing efficacy in the management of HIV. Those that claim to have discovered a cure must provide sufficient scientific evidence and regulatory approvals before going public with their claims,” said Ms Nyatanga.

TPRoE