HIV and AIDS has become a worldwide phenomenon that needs no introduction. Of all the continents of the world, Africa seems to be the worst hit of this pandemic. The rate of infection of this disease in Nigeria rises by the minute. The reasons for this rapid growth are simple. First is poverty. Poverty has been found to be one of the major reasons for the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. So many people live below poverty line and can hardly feed themselves and their families. People are desperate and can do anything to survive and so the sex trade is thriving. Sex is the major mode of transmission of the HIV virus. Poverty is also responsible for the fact that those infected can not easily afford to buy the drugs and food they need to stay healthy thereby living long. Therefore the number of orphans is increasing by the day. Another reason is inadequate health facilities. To the crux of my paper. Staying healthy in Nigeria is really an expensive venture. People who are living with the virus are definitely out of this league. Some have lost their jobs due to discrimination and some have been abandoned by family and relations. Buying the anti retrovirals for instance is almost an impossible task and this accounts for the increase in death toll among the victims. As a result of the reasons enumerated above, there is a growing need to try other alternative to the western mode of treatment and control. This alternative has been found to be the Traditional mode. This mode is in form of herbs, plants and roots and still in their natural state. Herbal treatment is affordable, effective and easily available. A case study this paper intends to look into is the case of a herbal farm located in Biu L G A of Borno State in Northern Nigeria. The herbal farm is owned by Rev. Ari Biu. Though started on a small scale, it has been a succor for PLWHAS for sometime now. The farm boasts of products and remedies that act as anti retrovirals and immunity for the body system as well as currants and already patients who are on regular treatment are happy with the results. Unlike the western medicine, which have side effects and may be scarce for sometime, they have no side effects and are available all year round since they are planted on the farm. This paper therefore posits that there is a need to encourage people to develop this kind of farm in other areas of the country since right now the one in Biu may be too far for most patients who do not live around there.
This paper also posits that herbal treatment and remedy to care for people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is commendable and has come to stay .It is easily affordable, available and has little or no side effects, therefore it is a venture that should be encouraged in Africa and Nigeria specifically.