eMbalenhle healers take a stand against bogus practitioners

eMBALENHLE – Members of the Traditional Health Organisation (THO) are not going to tolerate unscrupulous and bogus traditional medicine practitioners and practices to take place in the area.

They said this when a group of practitioners were awarded certificates of competence at the eMbalenhle South Community Hall on Friday, 29 November.

Ms Linah Masemola, training officer, said the certificates will ensure that practitioners are capable of healing patients in an ethical, efficient, safe and hygienic manner.

The practitioners were taught how to deal with sexual transmitted infections, diarrhoea, Tuberculosis, cancer, breast feeding, hygiene, nutrition, family planning, gardening, basic THO administration and counselling during the five-day workshop.

Ms Tryphina Mkhonza, local chairman of the THO, warned people to be careful of practitioners who promise to bring good luck and predict Lotto numbers.

She said many of these claim to be foreigners and are aiming at making quick money.

Ms Mkhonza said a true healer is someone who has been through initiation, was inducted by an expert in the field, has undergone rigorous training and is not after money.

Her organisation received several complaints about unscrupulous healers.

“Unfortunately, we can not do anything about those who are not members.

“These healers are the healers who give us a bad name,” said Ms Mkhonza.

She said their code of ethics forbid muti killings and body parts trafficking, along with any sexual contact with patients, the non-referral of patients when necessary or deliberately misrepresenting their abilities.

Ms Mkhonza said ethical responsibility is the greatest demand placed on their members and any breaches are treated as professional misconduct and they are punished by the THO disciplinary committee.

The members do not have a place to hold meetings.

They meet at Ms Mkhonza’s house in Extension 25, stand number 26270, on Wednesdays.

Contact her at 072 970 8474.