Ron Brynaert
Raw
Story
Monday, February 5, 2007
On the same day that Iranian scientists claimed that they have
discovered a herbal cure for AIDS, President Ahmadinejad vowed
that on February 11 the Islamic Republic's nuclear rights "will
be established."
"The drug named 'IMOD' is completely effective and safe
with no proved side effects," Iran's Minister of Health,
Treatment and Medical Training Kamran Bagheri Lankarani said,
according to
Fars News Agency, which bills itself as independent, but the
BBC
describes as "affiliated" to Iran's judiciary.
The herbal medicine produced, "after seven long years of
arduous work," by Iranian scientists "strengthens [the]
immunity system of the patients against HIV and provides a more
qualitative life for the affected population," the article
continues.
UPI
reports that the "state-controlled IRNA news agency quoted
an unidentified ministry employee as saying, 'The research studies
to find out a formula to cure AIDS was initiated during the tenure
of two former health ministers and have led to useful results.'"
Former Minister of Health and Medical Education Dr. Mohammad
Farhadi said the chemical and herbal treatment appeared effective
on other immune disorders as well.
"The theory was to determine whether or not it is possible
to boost the immunity system of the body," former Minister
of Health and Medical Education Dr. Mohammad Farhadi said in the
IRNA report, according to UPI. "Some 60 projects were initiated
to attain the result."
"The herbal-based medication, called IMOD, serves to control
the AIDS virus and increases the body's immunity," Baqeri
Lankarani was quoted as saying by the official news agency IRNA.
"It is not a medication to kill the virus, it rather can
be used besides other anti-retroviral drugs," Baqeri Lankarani
said on state radio.
The drug, made after five years of research, has been tested
on 200 patients, IRNA said, adding that it is considered the fifth
generation of medications helping control the HIV/AIDS virus.
"This is a substance good for both AIDS patients and those
who carry the virus without showing the symptoms," the director
of the project, Mohammad Farhadi, told state television.
Farhadi said the medication will now be tested on some 3,000
to 5,000 Iranian patients in the next year to monitor its efficacy.
Health Minister Baqeri Lankarani said that the number of HIV/AIDS
cases in Iran stands at around 14,000 while 1,700 people have
died of the disease.
Last June, Iranian officials warned about the rapid spread of
HIV/AIDS infections in the country due to a surge in intravenous
drug usage.
"If no action is taken against the spread of this disease
as quickly as possible, the number of those infected will reach
100,000 by the end of the next Iranian year (March 2008),"
said Iran's deputy health minister, Moayed Alavian.
Iran is believed to have at least two million regular drug users
-- and possibly as many as 3.5 million. Alavian said addiction
is growing by around eight percent a year.
Intravenous drug use is believed to be the main cause of HIV/AIDS
infection at 62.3 percent, followed by "unknown causes"
at 27.9 percent and sexual contact at 7.4 percent.
According to another Fars article, "Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad said that his administration is going to publicize
the country's remarkable progresses and achievements within the
coming days."
Excerpts from Fars article:
#
Addressing an inaugural ceremony marking the operation of 'Jegin'
Dam in Bashagard in Iran's southern province of Hormozgan on Saturday,
Ahmadinejad stated that bullying powers and those who pursue ill
intentions always seek to destroy the free nations' feeling of
self-confidence.
"The world should know today that the capable Iranian nation,
relying on its own youths and scientists, has now conquered the
peaks of knowledge and science," he said.
"During the current week, we are going to announce to the
Iranian nation the great achievements the country has made to
tell the world that when a nation decides to stand on its own
feet to climb up the peaks, God helps it and that nation will
embrace victory," the Iranian president further stated.
Ahmadinejad also mentioned that one such victory has been in
the field of nuclear technology, and pointing to enemies' threats
and the recent UN Security Council Resolution 1737 which has called
for a ban on nuclear aids to Iran, he said, "Iran never expects
you to help it as you have never helped nations to make progress."
The Iranian president also reiterated that the February 11 is
the day when the Iranian nation's inalienable right to access
and use nuclear technology will be established.
#
(Compiled from wire reports)
Email
