Zambian traditional healers to help in HIV/AIDS response

Zambian traditional healers can help in HIV and AIDS response in the country. This has been pointed out by a local not-for-profit organisation involved in HIV/AIDS and policy development – the Zambia AIDS Law Research and Advocacy Network (ZARAN).

And the World Health Organisation (WHO), International HIV/AIDS Alliance and Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (THPAZ) maintain that working together between modern-day medicine and traditional health healers is vital if Zambia is to tackle HIV and AIDS effectively.

According to recent research by ZARAN, at least 60 percent of the country’s populations are receiving some or all of their medical care from traditional health practitioners across the country. But, yet few attempts by Zambian government and other policy makers have been made to actively engage these traditional healers in Zambia’s response to HIV and AIDS.

“Even in urban areas where knowledge of HIV and AIDS and its treatment is highest many patients still prefer to seek care from a well-know healer rather than from government or private health institution in the country. The trust that healers have in their communities could make them a valuable source of accurate information on HIV/AIDS and treatment. It can also help to break down misconceptions and stigma which surround the condition,” the ZARAN report says.

And the United Nations AIDS (UNAIDS) guideline states that, “It is only with widespread involvement of traditional healers in HIV prevention that the spread of HIV can be curbed.”

But involving traditional (African) health healer in HIV and AIDS response is not without its challenges.

THPAZ president Dr. Rodwell Vongo said the first step should be eliminating misconception and skepticism among traditional healer themselves.

He adds that there is also a lack of involvement of traditional healers in modern medical development in the country.

According to the 2006 survey by THPAZ, only 13 percent of the traditional healers in the country had been in contact with modern medical doctors or facilities.

The other concern is a weak regulation of traditional medicine, leaving people living with HIV open to abuse by unscrupulous healers who promote cures for AIDS or persuade their patients to cease life-prolonging drugs such as the antiretroviral treatment.

And the Zambian Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (PRA) described the current weak regulation of traditional medicine as ‘a very grey area’.

“The revival or redrafting of a long forgotten Tradition Health Practitioners Bill which was first tabled almost 15 years ago may be one step in the right direction,” the statement said.

The loose regulation provided by THPAZ provides some protection to people who access traditional health services but healers who break its code of ethics can, at most, have their membership revoked.