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The drug that's got everyone talking
Richard Chimbiri, Financial Gazette
July 26, 2007

http://allafrica.com/stories/200707260796.html

University of Zimbabwe scientists recently announced a breakthrough in producing a herbal cocktail remedy, named Gundamiti, which they claim reduces HIV viral load in a patient's bloodstream by up to 90 percent within two months of therapy.

Yesterday, the scientists met the public during a discussion forum convened by SAfAIDS. The forum featured the drug's key researcher, Dr Peter Mashava, and offered independent scientists an opportunity to provide an objective critique of Gundamiti. The discussion was also convened to afford people living with HIV, nutritionists and Aids Service Organisations (ASOs) a space to seek clarification on the status of Gundamiti as a drug, and its future in HIV and Aids management in Zimbabwe.

Dr Mashava opened the proceedings by presenting his findings in finer detail.

"Gundamiti is based on three plants," said Dr Mashava.

"These plants have different levels of effectiveness (against HIV) but they work well in synergy."

Mashava explained the plants had been selected after testing 600 species of plant in Zimbabwe to see which plant would act against HIV. He also outlined the methodology that had been used to screen the plants, including liver function tests, kidney function tests and full blood counts on volunteers who had participated in the trials.

Mashava also announced that while researching on Gundamiti, his team had discovered a number of other herbs that can be taken separately by people living with HIV as a remedy for opportunistic infections such as fever, diarrhea, swelling of the lymph nodes and herpes zoster.

"They (patients) can take Gundamiti for the virus and other herbs for opportunistic infections," said the scientist.

To critique the presentation was a fellow scientist at the University of Zimbabwe, Dr Duri. Dr Duri said he would have wished to see the research widen its scope and include more standard tests. He singled out the exclusion of Kaposi's sarcoma from the opportunistic infections cited in the research as a glaring omission, saying the condition was so prevalent as to warrant inclusion.

Other members from the medical profession and civil society also gave a critique of Dr Mashava's findings, with the scientists responding to all questions one by one.

Lynd Francis from The Centre, renowned for its herbal garden, told the forum that she had been taking Gundamiti for 12 years. She attested to its medicinal properties.

"I know thousands of people who take Gundamiti. You don't need to take ARV's because you'll be using a holistic approach..." said Francis, a proponent of a holistic approach to living with HIV, which includes herbal remedies.

Dr Mashava said there were plans to scale up production of Gundamiti, but the only limiting factor was funding. Mashava has filed a patent for Gundamiti in the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation countries and South Africa. The scientist said he had also initiated contact with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe to have Gundamiti registered as a drug. Gundamiti currently costs $600,000 for a month's supply.

"We are hoping to increase production and provide sufficient Gundamiti to those who want it," he said.

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