01 Sep 2014

Traditional medicine cannot be ignored since 80 per cent of people in the world use it in one way or another, Professor Collet Dandara from University of Cape Town said during a recent traditional medicine commemoration.

Professor Dandara noted that as academics, they intended to promote the relationship that practitioners of traditional and conventional medicine had, basing on the observations that they would make throughout their short stay in Botswana.

“A person may say that there is no collaboration, but by virtue of the fact that the duo have a primary responsibility of ensuring that the public is healthy and given safe medication, shows the link they have,” he said.

Professor Dandara said traditional practitioners had indicated that collaboration on the ground was one way and not two ways as expected.

He said conventional practitioners believe it could be possible for the collaboration to be reciprocal, provided there is substantial evidence that could prove that traditional medicine used is safe and effective.

He commended the relationship that exists between the two practitioners in Botswana urging the Ministry of Health to continue ensuring that this endeavor is sustained for the benefit of the community.

Mr Banyatsi Setilo also a traditional healer said the disdain with which traditional medicine was viewed by erstwhile colonial masters was well known, noting the practice was viewed as archaic, superstitious and evil. ENDS