19 Mar 2014

The public has been warned to be cautious about some false pastors who claim that they can heal HIV/AIDS through prayer interventions.

It has been alleged in some quarters that some pastors stopped patients from taking treatment under the pretext that they would heal them through prayers and deliverance. It was recently reported that a certain pastor returned ARV drugs to one of the clinics in Maun claiming that she had healed the affected patients.

Coordinator of District Health Management Team (DHMT), Dr Christopher Chembe confirmed the incident during an interview. Dr Chembe stated that it involved a mother and his 10-year old boy who were both on treatment.

He said the nurses at Boseja clinic reported the matter to him to intervene and he recommended tests be conducted to prove that indeed the patients had been healed but the results were positive. 

He said efforts were made to convince the pastor that patients were still HIV positive, but she maintained her position that both patients were healed. Dr Chembe said the matter was reported to the police who had a meeting with the social workers and tried to explain to the pastor the danger of stopping people from taking treatment.

He said the social workers also informed her that the child, who was a minor, was protected by the state and that meant that she could face the wrath of the law if she insisted that the boy stop taking treatment.

Dr Chembe said at the moment, social workers had put in place mechanisms to ensure that the little boy took treatment without fail, adding that the mother took a decision to stop taking treatment.

He said the mother’s decision was dangerous to her family and the nation at large as stopping treatment would consequently result in her death and possible infection of other people with the virus.

Dr Chembe said they were not against people praying for whatever problems they had saying, “we know that God can heal, but there should be evidence. If we test a patient and find that he/she is still positive then it is an unfortunate situation”, he added.

He appealed to the public to be careful when dealing with such pastors and further emphasised that no one should order minors to stop taking ARV medication as that was against the law.

He said ARVs were meant to help stabilise the disease. Meanwhile, it was reported in a District Development Committee that a total of 61 clients had been discontinued from ARV treatment.

Currently, 12 718 clients were on treatment and children aged 12 years and below were 390, while the total number of newly registered patients was 265. The total reported deaths were nine. ENDS