Thabo Mohlala
The Gauteng Traditional and Faith Medical Practitioners’ organisation has launched a literacy programme in an effort to improve the negative public image of inyangas.
The programme was officially launched recently with the graduation of 16 traditional healers. It aims to equip inyangas with reading and writing skills to help them in the fight against HIV/Aids.
Graduate Elizabeth Khasibe, a Vaal inyanga, said of the programme: “I have gained a lot I now have a better understanding of what causes HIV/Aids and how it is contracted, as well as how we should treat its sufferers. We were taught about cleanliness, respect, love and compassion.”
She says they will learn about dosages, labelling and packaging, and “this will address the fears of most of our clients, who have had reservations about the accuracy of our measurements for prescriptions”.
Nomsa Dlamini, the public relations officer for the Gauteng Traditional and Faith Medical Practitioners’ organisation, said the literacy programme is the culmination of negotiations between her organisation and the Gauteng Department of Education. Curricula for the course includes diagnosis of illnesses and dosage of herbs.
Addressing the graduation ceremony, the organisation’s chairperson, Sipho Obed Mndaweni, said: “We are slowly reaching our goals, one of which is to be able to read and write and thus be on par with our Western-trained counterparts.
“Education will enable us to contribute meaningfully to debates and other processes within the medical field. More importantly, it will help us change our attitude. We must pool all our resources and collective wisdom in the fight against the scourge of Aids.”
The organisation is a multi-faith association that draws inyangas, herbalists and faith healers from a range of African indigenous religious movements. It boasts a membership of more than 500 traditional healers.
The Gauteng Department of Health, particularly the Aids unit under Dr Liz Floyd, has been the organisation’s main benefactor. It made an initial donation of R130000, which the organisation used to secure office space and to purchase the necessary equipment and furniture. This was topped up with another R150000, most of which went to training.
In her address at the ceremony, Floyd applauded the efforts of traditional healers but said huge challenges still lie ahead.
The Aids unit has trained 7000 volunteers, who have visited more than 8500 homes and provided education to 2,2-million people. This programme targets hostels, rural areas and informal settlements, and comprises youths, local government councillors, civic structures and traditional healers.
The “what-to-do” list of the Gauteng Traditional and Faith Medical Practitioners’ organisation shows it has ambitious plans.
Says Dlamini: “We are going to continue to engage other stakeholders, such as the departments of agriculture, health and social services. We are going to work with pharmaceutical companies to learn about dosage, labelling and packaging.”
Dlamini says the organisation will continue to educate healers about new developments in the medical field. She says it has a code of conduct to which all members must adhere and this will enable the organisation to root out rogue elements. “Ours is a calling it is a gift from our gods and God.”
The organisation is in the process of building a sound and reliable database of all registered practitioners. “Our long-term objective is to do away with the practice of peddling herbs and muti on the street corners,” says Dlamini.