tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1850379426161011153.post2220232201943886868..comments2023-10-24T15:18:37.944+02:00Comments on Ionian Enchantment: Irrationality killsAnony Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08077107616686254136noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1850379426161011153.post-56537247855621857272008-12-04T14:07:00.000+02:002008-12-04T14:07:00.000+02:00I think that,unfortunately for Thabo Mbeki,this is...I think that,unfortunately for Thabo Mbeki,this is what history will remember him most for.<BR/><BR/>As for Peggy Nkonyeni - the woman is an ignoramus. In a recent article, the Times reported on how she wanted to use a Durban hospice for an experiment in the efficacy of traditional medicine - in particular a concoction called uBhejane. The traditional healer who makes the stuff, Zeblon Gwala, sells patients 2 one litre bottles of uBhejane for R171.00 each. Patients have to take 50mls 3 times a day until both bottles are finished; after that they need only take it to keep their viral loads up. From what I can tell, Gwala has been selling the stuff for a few years now, despite efforts by the Denocratic Alliance to have him prosecuted under the contravention of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act. The reason the case was dismissed? Traditional medicines do not have to be registered! <BR/>The prosecutor in that particular case,Jabu Ngcobo, also said - and I quote - "There was not enough evidence to prosecute, and when I looked at the evidence, I did not see fraud. He (Gwala) said he believes in his medicines, and said it in good faith." WTF!!?<BR/>Being the cynic that I am, I wouldn't be one bit surprised to learn that Peggy is getting a kick back somewhere along the line.<BR/><BR/>Another thing, as long as people remain highly superstitious, they will continue to fall victim to evil, greedy people like Gwala.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1850379426161011153.post-17475287813933682782008-12-04T10:06:00.000+02:002008-12-04T10:06:00.000+02:00Hi James... Yeah, irrationality is no doubt still ...Hi James... Yeah, irrationality is no doubt still afoot. The argument that traditional medicine should somehow be incorporated into the mainstream health system is deeply frightening and idiotic. As SA skeptics, we (and that certainly includes me) should do more to push back against this kind of thinking.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, Steve did discuss that study on SGU: the authors give the dates 1884 to 1924 as the likely range, hence my "possibly as far back as 1884".Anony Mousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08077107616686254136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1850379426161011153.post-69076672058628792842008-12-03T18:53:00.000+02:002008-12-03T18:53:00.000+02:00Oh yeah, the "1903" thing ... I'm not disagreeing,...Oh yeah, the "1903" thing ... I'm not disagreeing, I haven't read the paper but from my source (SGU) it was claimed that the date was 1903 give or take 20 years, which correlates nicely with "as far back as 1884".<BR/><BR/>Just incase other readers were worried that I was spouting nonsense - yes, I know that I usually do that ... BUT NOT THIS TIME!Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00679587695564415978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1850379426161011153.post-19548132739178068422008-12-03T18:42:00.000+02:002008-12-03T18:42:00.000+02:00The departure of Mbeki did not, unfortunately, rid...The departure of Mbeki did not, unfortunately, rid the country of irrational thinking about HIV/AIDS. This morning I watched a <A HREF="http://www.sabcnews.com/portal/site/SABCNews/menuitem.5c4f8fe7ee929f602ea12ea1674daeb9/?vgnextoid=836a26226e5fd110VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default" REL="nofollow">news bullitin</A> on SABC2 which told how MEC Peggy Nkonyeni has called for traditional "medicine" to be given a chance to prove itself in the combat against AIDS. The Minister, <A HREF="http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/minister.htm" REL="nofollow">who has no medical training at all</A>, is suggesting an unimaginable scenario because she, like Mbeki, believes there is a "Western" science which is just another thought paradigm when compared to traditional "medicine". Both are equally valid to her.<BR/><BR/>The most memorable part from the TV interview (sadly not in the online news report) was an interview with a traditional healer about this. He said (I'm paraphrasing a bit from memory); "Traditional medicine does not need to be tested because the ancestors proved it works again and again for the past four thousand years".<BR/><BR/>Wow, stop and stare people, traditional healers have had a proven cure for HIV/AIDS for four thousand years ... even though the virus only came into existience in 1903.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00679587695564415978noreply@blogger.com