INTRODUCTION

Limpopo Unified Traditional Health Practitioners Association (LUTHPA) is a broad forum for traditional health practitioners of all disciplines.

It is based in Polokwane and reaches its broad constituency through key policy advocacy initiatives i.e roadshows, mass media campaigns, outreaches

LUTHPA recognises LUTHPA recognises the value of Traditional Health Practitioners to their communities regardless of specialisation. LUTHPA advocates LUTHPA advocates for professionalisation and

set standards in the practice.LUTHPA accounts LUTHPA accounts to all T.H practitioners and the communities they serve.LUTHPA mobilises LUTHPA mobilises and works with all practitioners. LUTHPA serves LUTHPA serves as a unifier in the T.H.P sector

INTRODUCTION (cont)

Traditional Health Practitioners Traditional Health Practitioners are essentially members of communities, families and staff Compliments in diverse workplaces; -They participate in the active economy as Professionals, Executives, bureaucrats, scholars, business, and political leaders; -Most importantly the above categories feature their client base; In deed Traditional Health Practitioners have a role to play in HIV workplace programming.

KEY ISSUES

-Traditional medicine has a clear role to play in society, and even the World Health Organization supports the practice of traditional medicine to complement modern medicine.-The integrity and dignity of a people stems from self-respect and self-reliance. The practice of traditional medicine practitioners can help promote such conditions in many ways. -It serves as an important focus for international technical cooperation and offers the potential for major breakthroughs in therapeutics and health care delivery. -Effort should be taken to keep the practice of traditional medicine alive, relevant and sustainable.

KEY ISSUES (cont)

-Satisfactory healing (through THP) involves not merely the recovery from bodily symptoms, but the social and psychological reintegration of the patient into his/her community.It is estimated that there are between 150 000 and 200 000 traditional healers in this country, with the healer: population ratio estimated at 1:200.13 This apparently favourable ratio could, however, be deceptive, if the type and quality of care in the traditional sector is not taken into account. In the current economic climate and amid the concomitant unemployment, there is a marked increase in the ranks oftraditional healers, among whom there are, unfortunately, quite a number of charlatans.

KEY ISSUES (cont)

It is calculated that of the 80 000 persons practising traditional healing in Gauteng, only about 10% are bona fide healers, i.e. healers who abide by the strict ethical code of this vocation.The effect of these charlatans is illustrated by the finding that of the patients with poisonous intoxication admitted to a hospital near Pretoria, 15% were ascribed to traditional “medicines”.

KEY ISSUES (cont)

HIV and WORKPLACEWorkplaces are stressful, highly competitive and active environments. Employees may approach THPs as a cover-up Incorporating the THP in managing HIV may include internalising the culture of acceptance; -Acceptance of FACTS about HIV; -Reference of the Virus “suspects” to the HCT institutions; -Rallying all THP into a formidable force to dispel all the MYTHS regarding treatment of HIV symptoms; -Accepting THP as the integral part of the psycho-social and physical healing process; -Investigate and expose the “rotten-potatoes” that misrepresent the country’s HIV treatment and management plans.

Traditional medical practitioners treat all age groups and all problems, using and administering medicines that are readily available and affordable.Their treatment is comprehensive and has curative, protective and preventive elements, and can be either natural or ritual, or both, depending on the cause of the disease. It includes among others, ritual sacrifice to appease the ancestors, ritual and magical strengthening of people and possessions, steaming, purification (e.g. ritual washing, or the use of emetics and purgatives), sniffing of substances e.t.c

HIV and WORKPLACE (cont)

HIV and WORKPLACE (cont)Prior to the colonial contact, Africans developed health care system known as native medicine or traditional medicine. This health delivery was contextualized and allowed to flourish within the context of the African culturalheritage, and there were remarkable evidences that proved the efficacy and efficiency of this delivery system. As yet, a single governing body does not regulate all these traditional healers. Although their members subscribe to a certain code of ethics, these associations do not have the mechanisms to enforce this code, thus leaving the door wide open for quacks and charlatans.

Integration roadmapRealizing the danger associated with nonrecognitionof the traditional medicine by the government in most countries of Africa, various attempts were made by the indigenous people especially the practitioners of the therapy themselves to convince the government officials on the need to officially recognize them and if possibleto integrate the medicine into the orthodox medicine in order to improve the health needs of the people.

Conclusion We must all embrace the opportunity to take the healing of our people to the next level. We are all witnesses that is no single panacea or the command of all wisdom in one institution.

Forward with Unity! Down with ritual killings!