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The Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey, has expressed concern about the adulteration of herbal medicine preparations with orthodox medicines by herbal medicine practitioners. �Adulteration of herbal preparations with orthodox medicines is inimical to the process and systems we are trying to build,� she pointed out. Ms Ayittey expressed the concern in a speech read on her behalf at a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary celebration and the launch of Global Peace Mission and Eradication of HIV/AIDS, by the Centre of Awareness at Wusorkrom in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese (AAK) District in the Central Region. The centre also inaugurated a GH�30,000 research centre to aid it in its research activities. The Centre of Awareness, founded by Dr Samuel Ato Duncan in 1989, claims to have manufactured a drug called �COA Drug� that has the potential of curing HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C and other blood-related diseases. Commendation Ms Ayittey said although the country had made tremendous strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS, it could not relent in its efforts to constantly create awareness and help those with the disease. She said the government was committed to partnering all stakeholders who were ready to share their knowledge and expertise in the effort to combat HIV/AIDS. �I am greatly encouraged by the exploration being done in the traditional herbal field in the search for the interventions in HIV/AIDS. I am optimistic that this may lead to finding a cure for the disease that orthodox medicine has failed to cure,� she said. Ms Ayittey commended Dr Duncan and his staff for the positive interventions they were making to finding a lasting solution to HIV/AIDS. She, however, said the Ministry of Health would not compromise the safety and quality of herbal products that claimed to cure HIV/AIDS. Dr Duncan According to Dr Duncan, God revealed the formula for the preparation of the medicine for the cure of HIV/AIDS to him in a dream during a period he was fasting and praying. He claimed that some persons living with the disease were tried with the drug for some time after which they tested negative at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. Touching on the theme for the launch, Dr Duncan said the centre saw peace as total freedom in all spheres of life, including good health. �We want a peaceful world free from wars, political and social injustices, religious rivalry, ethnic conflicts, indiscipline, immorality, diseases that have no cure as in the case of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, cancers, diabetes and other social vices,� he said. Torgbuiga Yaka The Registrar of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, Torgbuiga Yaka IV, cautioned the public not to patronise unregistered traditional medicine, although he said traditional medicines were safe to use. The Director, Centre for Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM), Professor Dominic Adotei Edoh, implored herbal medicine practitioners to add value to their drugs. Prof. Edoh said it was time for the country to consider other alternative healthcare solutions to orthodox medical care practices. He admonished herbal medicine practitioners to continue to scientifically test their drugs to ensure their efficacy, rather than rely on verbal testimonies from their patients.