Malawi Seeks to Oust Fake AIDS Healers

On Tuesday, lawmakers in Malawi weighed in on draft legislation targeting bogus claims of HIV/AIDS cures. “The act will regulate and protect people from healers who prescribe sex with albinos, the disabled or virgins as a cure for HIV and AIDS,” Mary Shaba, head of HIV/AIDS at the health ministry, told the parliamentary committee tasked with providing input on the measure before it is submitted to the full parliament later this year. Under the measure, Malawi’s 30,000 traditional healers would be required to register with a board set up by the health ministry. In addition to direct solicitation by healers, newspaper and radio ads for AIDS cures are common in Malawi, where one in 10 people is HIV-infected. Shaba did not specify possible sanctions against fraudulent healing claims.

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