People with HIV, TB, malaria should not rely on homeopathy, says WHO
August 21st, 2009 - 1:03 pm ICT by ANI ( 6 comments )London, Aug 21 (ANI): The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned people with HIV, TB and malaria to stay away from the use of homeopathic medicines.
The WHO’s statement came following concerns of young researchers who fear that encouraging the use of homeopathy in developing countries could risk people’s lives.
A group called Voice of Young Science Network, which is part of the charity Sense About Science, had also campaigned for “evidence-based” care.The BBC quoted Dr Mario Raviglione, director, Stop TB department, WHO, as saying: “Our evidence-based WHO TB treatment/management guidelines, as well as the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care do not recommend use of homeopathy.”
Speaking on the use of Homeopathy to treat diarrhoea in children, a spokesman for the WHO department of child and adolescent health and development said: “We have found no evidence to date that homeopathy would bring any benefit.
“Homeopathy does not focus on the treatment and prevention of dehydration - in total contradiction with the scientific basis and our recommendations for the management of diarrhoea.”
Medics from the UK and Africa had written to the WHO in June asking the body to discourage the use of homeopathic treatment. They had said: “We are calling on the WHO to condemn the promotion of homeopathy for treating TB, infant diarrhoea, influenza, malaria and HIV.
“Homeopathy does not protect people from, or treat, these diseases.
“Those of us working with the most rural and impoverished people of the world already struggle to deliver the medical help that is needed.
“When homeopathy stands in place of effective treatment, lives are lost.”
Dr Robert Hagan, a biomolecular science researcher at the University of St Andrews and a member of Voice of Young Science Network, as saying: “We need governments around the world to recognise the dangers of promoting homeopathy for life-threatening illnesses.
“We hope that by raising awareness of the WHO’s position on homeopathy we will be supporting those people who are taking a stand against these potentially disastrous practices.”
Dr Nick Beeching, a specialist in infectious diseases at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, said: “Infections such as malaria, HIV and tuberculosis all have a high mortality rate but can usually be controlled or cured by a variety of proven treatments, for which there is ample experience and scientific trial data.
“There is no objective evidence that homeopathy has any effect on these infections, and I think it is irresponsible for a healthcare worker to promote the use of homeopathy in place of proven treatment for any life-threatening illness.” (ANI)
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Tags: biomolecular science, child and adolescent health, dehydration, diarrhoea in children, dr mario, dr robert, health and development, homeopathic medicines, homeopathy, life threatening illnesses, malaria, management guidelines, medical help, medics, science network, stop tb, tb treatment, treatment management, university of st andrews, world health organization
August 21st, 2009 at 4:56 pm
As a senior advisor to many UN organisations in development, I am alarmed to see the nature of this warning by WHO against homeopathy. I have worked in many of these countries with those most vulnerable, and I have always used homeopathy instead of malaria pills for myself for 40 years, as a mother on my own children with remarkable results. There exist evidence based studies in homeopathy, particularly established in the UK; however they are not considered by the young scientists and there are not funds to promote this evidence based research as that found in the funding of drug research backed by powerful pharmaceutical companies. Indeed the underlying causes of these diseases and links to poverty according the Nobel economist Amartya Sen is lack of freedom to make choices to solutions the people themselves prioritise. As Nobel economist the fundamental solution to disease and poverty is the capability to lead the life the life they value and not the values of others imposed by higher sources. The WHO warning against homeopathy initiated by the young science network is evidence itself — part and parcel of a development policy that many now see as root cause to poverty and its many symptoms including famine. People in countries of the south have the capability and the human right to make intelligent choices themselves. I object to the manner in which this view on homeopathy has been reached by WHO with no consultation with the people themselves, manipulated as one sided argument by countries of north, dominated by conservative western science medical paradigms and pharmaceutical companies that in this case are both judge and jury and financiers for drug companies. People in countries of the south must have the freedom to hear both sides of the argument and make these choices themselves.
September 24th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I can rely on whatever I want, I am free! and no WHO will tell me what to do!
people are not stupid
they can make decisions for themselves!
thanks
September 24th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I can rely on whatever I want, I am free! and no WHO will tell me what to do!
thanks
November 25th, 2009 at 1:58 am
sometimes who also missguide peoples i know a person who sucessfully treated an HIV positive patient through homeopthy.he use patient’s blood to potenciesed and use it as a remedy. in my village a homeopath also sucessfully treat a lady for tuberculosis in 1999 …both patients are lived till now
August 1st, 2010 at 12:32 am
Dr L S Chauhan has continued the research work for 8 years and prepared Homeopathic dilution for treatment and prophylactic of malaria parasite .This medicine was used by effected malaria patients and they were fully cured . Dr Chauhan happily adds here that these patients were not attacked by malaria from 6month to 3 years and more .
His treatment work is thus authenticated by Pathologist by test of blood smear as per pathological report. This is scientific evidence, this has been experienced on the basis of pathological report received from hundred of patients, it is therefore evident that the medicine is very successful .
Dr Chauhan don’t agree with before said scientists remarks in principle . In present times some scientists says (Peter Fisher/W.H.O.) homeopathic is cheap and there is no evidence that it cures these diseases . With authentic evidence of successful research work by Dr L S Chauhan , Homeopathic Anti Malaria Medicine IS 100% Successful
January 12th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Hi everyone!
Please don’t be misguide by WHO ’s statemts.It’s possible to cure the mentioned cases by Homoeopathic mode of treatment.