31 Aug 2017

About 80 per cent of the population worldwide utilises traditional medicine for their health care needs, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).

This was said by dental specialist from Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital Dr Abdul Mohideen at the 15th African Traditional Medicine week commemoration in Tutume on August 30.

Dr Mohideen said research from some African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe had indicated that the overwhelming number of traditional medicinal users was mainly due to the fact that traditional medicine was easily accessible and affordable.

He said the consultant would be a local person with better understanding of cultural norms of a particular society.

"It thus that some researchers believe that if properly motivated and involved the traditional health practitioners can act as a valuable link to the majority of the population who may be difficult if not impossible for modern health workers to reach, he said."

He said traditional medicine and practitioners were critical component of health care discipline from way back who served the public in alleviating pain to curing some ailments as well as addressing the spiritual aspect of human beings.

“It is as such that their contribution can not be ignored,” he said.

Furthermore, Dr Mohideen said back in 1976, the World Health Assembly acknowledged the potential value of traditional medicine in expanding health services and advocated for manpower reserve constituted by traditional health practitioners.

In 1977, he said a resolution urged countries to utilise their traditional systems of medicine, with another resolution being passed in 1978 in which the organisation was called upon to develop a comprehensive approach to the subject of medicinal plants.

Dr Mohideen therefore pointed out that it was against this background that WHO regional office for Africa had over the past two decades been urging member states to collaborate with traditional health practitioners.

In Botswana, he said the drafting of and consultation on the traditional health practice bill is ongoing.

A traditional health practice reference committee comprising representative of heads of associations is active and meets regularly with the ministry of health and wellness personnel to discuss areas of mutual interest, he said.

For his part, interim chairperson of Traditional Health practitioner Mr Olebile Sefeme implored fellow practitioners to register and have their records filed with appropriate associations recognised by the government.

That, he said would facilitate their mutual understanding with the government so that the partnership could grow stronger.

In addition, he cautioned some traditional practitioners who still believe that being in partnership with government was going to affect their practice, with the government swallowing them.

Tutume sub district council chairperson Councilor Ishmael Mokgethi appreciated the work done by the traditional healers but however requested them to review their charges. 

He said at government facilities people were charged as little as P5 but some traditional practitioners charged exorbitant fees resulting in disadvantaging some people who have interest in their services. ENDS