Home

A Visit To The Snake Oil Salesman

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Special Assignment exposes some of the HIV/Aids ‘cures’ being peddled in KwaZulu-Natal – a province with one of the highest infection rates in the world. One of these treatments claims to use electromagnetic energy to disable HIV. Despite a study finding that it has no effect on HIV, the treatment is still being offered to HIV positive people at a price of R1 000. In another case, we found a doctor of theology selling a supplement mixture which the American Food and Drug Administration has described similar to industrial bleach.
We also find that delays in reforming South Africa’s laws make it possible for those offering non-drug treatments to operate with impunity.

Produced by Cobus Van Staden – Thursday December 1, 2011 on SABC3 at 9pm

The United Nations has recently stated that deaths from Aids are down 21% from their peak in 2005. This is largely due to advances in antiretroviral treatment and more effective rollouts across the world.
Also in South Africa, the government’s antiretroviral rollout is getting results. However, HIV/Aids experts are concerned that despite the ARVs being offered for free, people offering ‘cures’ are making money off South Africa’s HIV positive poor.

hivex machine

For more information:

Special Assignment office: (011) 714-6757/8

Acting Executive Producer: Busisiwe Ntuli 083 346 7291

Productrion Co-ordinator: Menatalie Van Rooyen 083 241 7670

– By

Author

MOST READ