Justice in Service of Community
Category: News
Date of Article: 07/01/98
Topic: Herbalist Finds Cure for Sickle Cell
Author: Agaju Madugba, Kaduna
Full Text of Article:
RELIEF may have come for patients of the sickle cell disease as a Chartered
Accountant, Mr. Festus Akpati, says, he has found a potent herbal
preparation for the illness which arises from a genetic disorder.
Already, a nine-year-old girl, who has been placed on a treatment of the
herbal preparation has not had any further attacks for one and half years
ago.
Orthodox medical science is yet to find a cure for sickle cell which doctors
say, is characterised by severe anaemia in patients as well as generalised
debility, jaundice, abnormal bone formation, poor growth and development.
Sickle cell patients suffer intermittent "crisis" which in some cases may
lead to death.
Akpati, the accountant cum herbalist, says he practices what he refers to as
"scientific herbalism" part-result of which has been the production of his
Sun Pack SCM.
According to him, Sun Pack SCM, is "produced from Dalang Herbs, indigenous
herbs with strong medicinal value against sickle cell anaemia."
He explained that the powdery substance, when taken with warm water, as
directed, acts on the sickle-shaped blood cells of a patient thereby
reducing the incidence of attacks.
Patients, Akpati said, who are undergoing treatment at his Dalang Herbs
Medical Clinic in Kaduna, have achieved considerable weight-gain while
regular blood analyses have shown consistent improvement in the haemoglobin
level as well as correction of the sickling blood cells.
As he stated, "we have reduced attacks by as much as 85 per cent in about
100 patients currently receiving the Sun Pack SCM treatment."
Akpati said that the herbs for the preparation are abundant in the country
but that he has started cultivating them in his farm, also in Kaduna.
Having attended Yaba College of Technology, Akpati is a principal partner at
Dala Akpati and Co. A former president of the Nigeria-America Chamber of
Commerce and former president of Rotary Club and member of the Gamji
Herbalist Medical Association and the Medical Herbal Board of Africa, Akpati
is from Akwani Local Government Area of Delta State.
A medical practitioner, Dr. Oliver Onwube, of EMABS Hospital in Kaduna said
that a cure for sickle cell disease should be able to alter the genetic
make-up of a patient, which he regretted, is virtually impossible.
He explained that a sickle cell patient has an inherited SS genotype and
that current orthodox medical treatment is mainly symptomatic whereby a
patient is given drug to check factors that may induce attacks.
Onwube listed some pre-disposing factors to crisis to include cold,
infection, anxiety and stress. The sickle cell disease according to him,
destroys the red blood cells in the bone marrow and also causes the pulling
of large volumes of blood into the spleen leading to its massive
enlargement.
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UMUIBE
I heard of this treatment approx. 2 years ago,however it has been hard to get
specifics on it. As a Professional Herbalogist it is of extreme importance to
me that the sufferers of this disease get the type of relief that this
compound purports to give. Although my practice is comprised basically of
those of African descent it is open to anyone who is suffering.
I know from experience that there are myriad cures to be made known to the
world that are from Africa in general and Ala-Igbo in particular. If anyone
can get me more information on this preparation,and any others, I and my
clients would greatly appreciate it.
IMELA
Rev. EzeNdubuisi
I also thank Victor for sharing this information with us on naijanet. However,
I am only cautiously optimistic about the efficacy of this drug for a couple
of reasons:
1. Just as I wouldn't have a pure engineer balance the books for my company, I
am not sure a pure accountant is the best source of medical research
information.
2. From what I read in Victor's posting, I don't think enough long studies -
both short and long term have been done on this Sun Pack SCM.
3. The only time an MD's name was invoked in Victor's posting, all I heard was
a tinge of the same scepticism you are hearing from me. I quote directly from
below: "A medical practitioner, Dr. Oliver Onwube, of EMABS Hospital in Kaduna
said
> >> that a cure for sickle cell disease should be able to alter the genetic
> >> make-up of a patient, which he regretted, is virtually impossible.
> >> He explained that a sickle cell patient has an inherited SS genotype and
> >> that current orthodox medical treatment is mainly symptomatic whereby a
> >> patient is given drug to check factors that may induce attacks.
> >> Onwube listed some pre-disposing factors to crisis to include cold,
> >> infection, anxiety and stress. The sickle cell disease according to him,
> >> destroys the red blood cells in the bone marrow and also causes the >
>>> pulling of large volumes of blood into the spleen leading to its
massive
> >> enlargement."
As someone who has been personally touched by this genetic deformity, I should
be a cheer-leader of any credible advancement in the research into sickle
cell. At the same time, I would hate to have people's hopes elevated
unnecessarily, especially by an accountant.
Alafia.
Rotimi.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In a message dated 98-07-02 05:15:12 EDT, vala...@email.uni-kiel.de writes:
<<
Emma,
Thanks for the information. I wouldn't have known a cure for something
as deadly as sickle cell lies unutilised in Nigeria. Our country is
indeed a wonderful one!!
Have a nice day.
Victor
S...@Bilharziasis.dk wrote:
>
> Victor,
> The problem does not lie with the medical practitioners but with the
> government that has failed to put appropriate policies in place that
> would both encourage and enable cash strapped inventors to make their
> products available to the needy public. This is not the first dicovery
> for the cure of sickle cell anaemia. My friend Dr A.A. Uwakwe of the
> Biochemistry Dept., University of Port-Harcourt discovered that over 5
> years ago and has been negotiating with some expartriates on that.
>
> Our researchers are doing well inspite of obvious lack of incentives
> and tools.
>
> Emma Uttah.
>
> >----------
> >From: Victor O. Alaofin[SMTP:vala...@email.uni-kiel.de]
> >Sent: 2. juli 1998 10:30
> >To: Uzo Okafor
> >Cc: mulitiple recipients; igbo--net
> >Subject: Re: cure for sickle cell
> >
> >Uzo,
> >
> >At the risk of sounding naive. I have often wondered why our medical
> >practitioners cannot work together with our traditional healers to
> >investigate claims such this one which can save lifes.
> >
> >Must we always wait for Pfizer to "invent" viagra when we all know
> >people have been selling the local versions of such drugs.
> >The economic breakthrough we are searching for in heavy industry might
> >just lay hidden in herbal medicine.
> >
> >Kara ole o!
> >
> >Victor
> >
> >Uzo Okafor wrote:
> >>
> >> Justice in Service of Community
> >>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> ----
> >>
> >> {News | Editorials | Business/Economy
> >> | Politics | Features | Arts & Culture | Sports |
> >> About the Staff }
> >
--
Victor O. Alaofin
Institute of Agricultural Economics
Market and Policy Analysis Unit
Olshausenstr 40
24118 Kiel, Germany
Tel. 0049-431-880-1477
Fax 0049-431-880-4592
Email. Vala...@email.uni-kiel.de
-
Thanks for the information. I wouldn't have known a cure for something
as deadly as sickle cell lies unutilised in Nigeria. Our country is
indeed a wonderful one!!
Have a nice day.
Victor
S...@Bilharziasis.dk wrote:
>
> Victor,
> The problem does not lie with the medical practitioners but with the
> government that has failed to put appropriate policies in place that
> would both encourage and enable cash strapped inventors to make their
> products available to the needy public. This is not the first dicovery
> for the cure of sickle cell anaemia. My friend Dr A.A. Uwakwe of the
> Biochemistry Dept., University of Port-Harcourt discovered that over 5
> years ago and has been negotiating with some expartriates on that.
>
> Our researchers are doing well inspite of obvious lack of incentives
> and tools.
>
> Emma Uttah.
>
> >----------
> >From: Victor O. Alaofin[SMTP:vala...@email.uni-kiel.de]
> >Sent: 2. juli 1998 10:30
> >To: Uzo Okafor
> >Cc: mulitiple recipients; igbo--net
> >Subject: Re: cure for sickle cell
> >
--
Thanks for your comments. First I will like to set the records straight
the original message was put on the net by Uzo Okafor and not me.
I share your fears too that an accountant is the one "conducting drug
research" would make anybody cautious. However, I went beyond that to
ask for more cooperation between our orthodox doctors and pharmacists
and our traditional doctors or "jawe jawes"
Nice day!
Victor