Cicak Tokek atau Tokay bukan penyembuh HIV, AIDS dan Kanser

Cicak Tokay atau Tokek yang digembar gemburkan boleh menyembuhkan AIDS, HIV dan Kanser sebenarnya tidak, menurut WHO, atau Pertubuhan Kesihatan Dunia.

Di Malaysia, kegilaan memburu cicak tokek atau tokay yang dikatakan boleh mencecah ratusan ribu ringgit seekor, sudah berlarutan sejak beberapa tahun lalu.

Di mana mana saja Tokek diburu, samada di Kudat, Sabah atau di Padang Besar, Perlis.

Kegilaan cicak Tokek menjurus dari Perlis hinggalah ke Sabah.

Menurut kenyataan WHO, tiada bukti saintifik cicak tokek boleh menyembuhkan HIV, AIDS dan kanser.

Sebaliknya pesakit AIDS dan pengidap HIV dinasihatkan mendapatkan rawatan anti-retroviral di Hospital kerajaan.

Maklumat ini ada disiarkan dalam akhbar berbahasa Inggeris, The STAR di alamat :

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F11%2F21%2Fnation%2F9943851&sec=nation

World Health Organisation : Geckos are not cures for HIV, AIDS or Cancer

Sad news for Geckos geeks and Geckos collectors out there.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) posted a message on its Facebook page to remind people that reports stating Geckos can cure HIV, AID and cancer were not true.

WHO’s posting coincided with wildlife trade watchdog TRAFFIC’s call for the protection of the to’keh (or tokay) gecko, following a sharp increase in illegal smuggling of the lizard in Southeast Asia.

“We’d like to remind you that the gecko is not a cure for HIV/AIDS, or cancer.

“The rumour that says otherwise is a hoax,” the WHO message stated.

“There is no scientific evidence that gecko can cure HIV/AIDS or cancer.

“Nor is there information on the safety and hygiene consequences from exposure to geckos,” the health organisation said.

Malaysian Society for HIV Medicine immediate past president Dr Christopher Lee said: “We strongly advise people who are infected with HIV to continue with the anti-retroviral treatment provided free in government hospitals.

“This is because the anti-retroviral treatment is the only treatment that is proven to work so far in the four decades of the HIV epidemic,” he added.

TRAFFIC was quoted in The Star yesterday as saying that the demand for tokay geckos had skyrocketed recently due to unfounded claims on Asian websites and blogs that consuming the reptile’s tongue and internal organs could cure HIV and cancer.