Mogadishu, Somalia, 07/10 - Doctors here have warned city resident against a widely used local drug called `Dawo Rabi` (God`s medicine), whose peddlers claim it can cure several diseases, including cancer.
Transitional government Health minister Osmaan Mahamud Dufle warned the public against its use, after a rush for the medicine pushed its price up from 10,000 Somali shillings to 14,000 shillings (75 US cents) in under two weeks.
A woman, Sahra Warsame, who was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 months ago, said she had to resort to Dawo Rabi because she could not afford regular treatment.
But representatives of Mogadishu doctors affirmed at a press conference here that the "medicine" had been tested and found to be composed of water, blood and herbs, adding that further tests even showed the presence of the AIDS virus and other pathogens.
Dr Abdullahi Farah of Arafat Medical Hospital warned the public to be on the look out for quacks and traditional healers peddling "medicine" to unsuspecting patients.
He said that those peddling Dawo Rabi were unscrupulous enemies of Somalia preying on innocent men, women and children.
The doctor also encouraged people to seek the services of qualified medical personnel instead of wasting resources and time on traditional healers.
Since the collapse of the central government after the ouster of the late president Mohamed Siad Bare, there has not been any control on pharmaceutical products, most of which is imported from Pakistan and India.
Health ministry sources said Dawo Rabi has been sent to Nairobi, Kenya for further testing.