Malawi plans new laws against fraudsters peddling AIDS ‘cures’

BLANTYRE – Malawi plans new laws to clamp down on charlatans who claim they can cure AIDS.

Mary Shaba, a senior government aide, said on Tuesday that the new legislation, to be introduced later this year, will also target religious leaders who persuade people to stop taking anti-AIDS medicines and instead to pray. Shaba said the law would “regulate and protect people from healers who prescribe sex with albinos, the disabled or virgins as a cure for HIV and AIDS.”The poor southern African nation has a 14 per cent HIV prevalence rate among adults, making it one of the world’s hardest hit nations.The disease has cut life expectancy to 36 years, according to the United Nations.Nampa-APShaba said the law would “regulate and protect people from healers who prescribe sex with albinos, the disabled or virgins as a cure for HIV and AIDS.”The poor southern African nation has a 14 per cent HIV prevalence rate among adults, making it one of the world’s hardest hit nations.The disease has cut life expectancy to 36 years, according to the United Nations.Nampa-AP