As it has become customary with other Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) cure claims since the advent of the dreaded disease some years ago, the recent claim by a University of Benin (UNIBEN) lecturer, Prof. Isaiah Ibeh, that he has discovered a herbal drug that cures the disease has been mired in deep controversy.
It all began with the swift disclaimer from the authorities of UNIBEN even before the don’s claim was subjected to scientific tests. The Provost, College of Medical Sciences of the University, Prof. Vincent Iyawe, said the university could not vouch for the claims of Ibeh for now because the institution was not carried along in the research. Also, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has invited Ibeh for a possible verification of his claim. Ibeh, the Dean of School of Basic Medical Sciences of UNIBEN recently announced that he has developed a new drug that can cure HIV and AIDS.
He informed journalists in Benin, Edo State, that the herbal drug, Bioclean II (DXL-Deconcuction X-Liquid) is capable of wiping out HIV or significantly lower its load within a month. Ibeh also said that the new drug has undergone series of medical examinations in Nigeria and the United States. According to him, the drug has performed well on patients with the HIV virus and has shown evidence of total restoration of damaged tissues. While there is the need to subject Ibeh’s claim to scientific analysis in order to establish the truth or otherwise of his claim, we frown on the haste with which Nigerians and some professional bodies in the country, especially the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), discredit scientific feats or claims emanating from Nigeria.
We recall the case of Prof. Augustine Njoku-Obi who discovered cholera vaccine in the 70s and Dr. Oliver Ugo’s in-vitro fertilization or test-tube baby claim in the 1980s. In the case of Njoku-Obi, he left the shores of Nigeria with his invention to the USA where it was verified and adopted for use. There was also AIDS cure claim by one Dr. Jeremiah Abalaka in 2000. In the same Nigerian fashion of condemning before verification, Abalaka’s claim was also discredited. The level of skepticism among Nigerians, especially those in medical sciences, cannot take us anywhere in discovering new things. There is the need now to encourage research in life-threatening health conditions of which AIDS is one of them.
Nobody can say with certainty where the cure for AIDS lies. There is even a possibility that it can come from often neglected quarters. Condemning and disowning every attempt by Nigerian scientists to find a cure for the disease is unscientific and disingenious. We should not be taking sardonic delight in condemning everything Nigerian. Ibeh should have been given a benefit of doubt until the contrary is proved. This attitude of condemn before verification is most unhelpful. It cannot allow innovation to thrive. We believe that there are scientific bodies that can verify Ibeh’s claim
. The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and similar bodies should help out to determine the veracity of Ibeh’s claim. Prof. Ibeh is not an ordinary man in the street. He is the Dean of Basic Medical Sciences of an old generation university in the country. His claim of AIDS cure should not be dismissed with a wave of the hand. Rather, it should be subjected to scientific testing with a view to knowing the truth. Nigerians should not be left out of the search for AIDS cure. Since there are standard procedures for drug trials, Ibeh’s effort should not be lampooned.
The first line of action should not be condemnations and disclaimers as done by Ibeh’s University, NAFDAC and NMA. Our scientists should be encouraged in their spirited quest to find cure for AIDS and other endemic diseases in the country. We note Prof. Ibeh’s research effort and urge him to carry out all the necessary scientific procedures on the new drug. Relevant research institutes should also investigate his AIDS cure claim.
We value our products.
We must learn to value our products. And also assist our indigenous expert to excel. Americans & other advanced Countries started frm a place.
So sad! Here, scientists so-called don’t behave like one;they rather follow the jonses and make unscientific and unguarded remarks.Let there be a difference between the learned and unlearned.
what happened to laid down rules of scientific publication and claims?
For those who have HIV, do not listen to useless so call scientific publication and claims, they have their own limits.
Their are many illness that differs scientific solutions, most of this so called approved medicines in the markets all over the world have their own big implications and contributes to most deaths.
Going back to nature is the only solution and nature has cure for aids and hiv period.
The Prof should provide evidence of the tests and/or assessments done on the drug in Nigeria and in the USA. He should also present the drug for independent assessment with unrestrained press coverage. End of discussion
D prof need 2b encouraged ,d cure 4 hiv is very much nearer than we xpected..
Njoku-obi’s discraimed chorela cure is adopted and standardised in US and not here why?cos he’s igbo man,so is prof ibeh.well,we aren’t nigerians after all that’s it..
The fact is that this bloody country called Nigeria is awash with 98 percent educated illiterates, and agency’s masquerading as certification watch dog that lacks credibility as professionals are not involved in their respective departments. Their head of departments are selected thorough appointments not merit.
In developed world if somebody announced an invention , condemnation doesn’t first come in from any angle as the product have to run through test etc. but announcement can be done. But the product might not even be on sales for years as there will be some fine tunning to be done. But here they will run into conclusions , which I wonder if it’s out of stupidity or out of ignorance that a black man or fellow African cannot have the capability to invent. That is why we lack human develop. Cause no support is given. To somebody who made attempt.
I will advice mr Ibeh to take his discovery elsewhere. This country Died long time Ago. Awaiting burial.
More kudos to your elbow.
Bcos he is an igbo man but i knw for sure dat our chief hope of livin which is oil will one day be irelevant nd those who hav d industry nd knwlege will rule
There is no other scientific confirmation needed other than to use it on those infected with hiv/aids.There is dicotomy as usual provided those who lay claim these inveentions are from east.
just unbelievable how people just belittle the great knowledge that God has bestowed upon the people of our great nation, its absolutely sad that we did pulled back ourselves from identifying with some great nations of the world due to jelousy. why do we failed to appreciate the fact that we have someone in our country who tend to deeply go into reaseach looking for medical cure for AIDS, instead of us to encourage and give our full support as a medical institutional and also try to uplift the spirit in peoples in other to continue to do more reaseach all we do is to condenm. this has contributed to many reason why it will take Nigeria centuries to get to the level of the western world. imagine if british or American were to condenm their children who were doing one reaseach or the other to get to the bottom of things, i wonder where the world would have been today. i urge every institution in Nigeria to please encourage our children for them to be able to find their feet on the world stage.
if the drug cure hiv/aids no need for any scientific whatever, in our villages today there are herbal doctors healing so many diseases perfectly without scientific proof. herbs are from nature and heal so many diseases uncountable. as of NMA, we know them for strike for more pay, they earned govt. salary and work in their private clinic. forget about nafdac.
it quiet unfortunate that Nigeria have refuse to grow, Instead of giving a chance to determine the veracity of the claim and subsequent supporting and promoting if it’s comes out right, we are at first condemning it. By the time discovery is made in western world only a few people that have asses to public fund would be going for the treatment as usual at the expense of the poor who cannot afford it, it’s quiet a shame.
This man should have been encouraged. There is nothing wrong in questioning the veracity of the claims, but to condemn him is wrong. The world pharmaceutical companies could be behind this, so that they will continue to make money from existing HIV drugs. The university should join hands with this man to continue the research and be credited for any breakthrough.
we all are thomas in the bible…. we hardly believe thats the case with nigerians…. assuming this guy is from usa… he would have been the man of the yr and would have won noble …but because he is an ibo man….
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH INSTITUTIONS SHOULD NOT BE SWIFT TO CONDEMN PROF. IBE’S EFFORT. LET THEM CONTRIBUTE THEIR IDEAS ON HOW THIS RESEARCH CAN BE IMPROVED UPON TO ATTAIN WHAT CAN BE GLOBALLY ACCEPTED.A GOOD THING CAN COME OUT OF NIGERIA!
it is all about self – the university community that are suppose to support Ibeh at all cost are going against him just because they are not the one that discovered the medicine.-they have forgotten that there is no way they will mention ibeh without making reference to uniben
Nigeria government should look into his claims because he is not an ordinary man in the street. He is the Deam of basic science , what we are looking for outside might be here with us. Encourage the man