Traditional health practitioners complete five-day workshop
The workshop focused on the management of chronic diseases such as TB, HIV/Aids, cancer, diabetes, as well as family planning, referrals of patients and maintaining a good working relationship with the Department of Health and the police.
On Friday, 27 traditional healers from Mamelodi received traditional health practitioner certificates and leadership certificates.
This follows after the group attended a workshop from September 1–5.
This was held at Mamelodi West Section B3.
Dr Dimakatso Mohlabane from Mamelodi Traditional Health Organisation said, “We are working different stakeholders in Mamelodi, which included the Department of Health and the police.
“We are working with the Department of Health to help with referrals of patients.”
The five-day event taught healers about both western and traditional medicines.
It focused on the management of chronic diseases such as TB, HIV/Aids, cancer and diabetes, as well as family planning, referrals of patients, and maintaining a good working relationship between the Department of Health and the police.
Traditional healers who attended the five-day workshop received certificates upon completion, all of which are to be renewed every year.
Mohlabane said it educated traditional healers on how to behave themselves as Sangomas in the community and to refer patients that need Western medicine to hospitals.
They were also encouraged to refer dehydrated patients to hospitals before they start healing them.
“The surgeries of traditional healers must always be kept clean at all times, because the Department of Health often visits these surgeries,” said Mohlabane.
Working with the police is aimed at fighting crime within the community.
Traditional healers were also advised against ill-treating their students and supporting witchcraft.
“The certificates offered by THO are to certify traditional healers as qualified traditional health practitioners after completing the workshop.”
The certificates will help those practitioners accused of practising witchcraft, because THO condemn witchcraft.
Participant Johanna Ngobeni said the workshop has taught her so many things about being traditional health practitioner.
Ngobeni suggested that all traditional healers attend the workshop because it has taught her how to work with the Department of Health and how to behave as a traditional healer.
The event was also attended by the ANC ward 67 committee.
The next workshop takes place next week in Mamelodi East.
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