Panafrican News Agency - September 1, 1999
He told journalists Monday that the figures were worrisome "and an indication that efforts so far made to fight the scourge were not yielding results." According to him, the figures could be higher as the number reflected those who died in government-owned hospitals.
He said that despite the high death rate, government was not contemplating offering free medical treatment to people living with HIV because it was not sustainable due to lack of funds.
Pitan announced that arrangements were being made to register a foundation, Lagos State HIV/AIDS Foundation, to be responsible for the prevention, control and management of the killer disease.
He said that the body would function as a Non-Governmental Organisation which will be free to source for funds from local and foreign governments. Meanwhile, reports say that scores of people living with HIV were besieging a private Lagos clinic for treatment made from local medicinal herbs.
"Alukovir", as the concoction is referred to, is said to be a product of indigenous Nigerian medicinal plants.
The proprietress of Sixth Station Clinic, a qualified paediatrician at the Lagos State General Hospital, Ikeja, who would not on grounds of professional ethics, said she receives an average of 20 patients daily.
"More carriers have come to the hospital in recent times to receive treatment," she said, adding that the trend indicates that more Nigerians were contracting the disease.
She said that the dosage of her medicine had been standardised.
"The presentation does not offend the senses nor debase humanity. It is basically administered by any practitioner capable of using spoon," she noted.
"We observe that AIDS patients who have taken this drug have become free of symptoms such as diarrhoea, skin rashes, mouth ulcers and cough, and gained weight in a matter of weeks."
According to her, the patients were first confirmed HIV-positive by any of the credited government-owned HIV/AIDS screening centres before the commencement of treatment.
She claimed that no fewer than 220 carriers had been treated at the hospital since 1997 out who five had died.
The Nigerian Medical and Dental Council, the apex regulatory body of medical practice in the country, claimed it was aware of the activities at the Sixth Station Clinic.
The registrar of the council, Dr. Celestine Ezeani, expressed excitement at the hospital's efforts, saying that the council had advised the Nigerian Food and Drug Administration and Control to carry out standard scientific drug trials to verify its efficacy.
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