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Healers and doctors sign memorandum
Farook Khan and Wendy Nzama. The Mercury, 24 Oct 2003. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd
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KwaZulu-Natal traditional healers and medical doctors have signed a Memorandum which will pave the way for indigenous healers to be included in the country's health sector.
The groundbreaking agreement was sealed after a meeting at the Nelson R Mandela Medical School, which was attended by King Goodwill Zwelithini, KZN Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize and the national Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
The patriarch of traditional healers, Credo Mutwa, hailed the historic signing of the Memorandum, saying the two schools of medicine have been like two "hippos fighting over one pond".
Dr Barry Kistnasamy, Dean of the Medical School, said the Memorandum will:
- Explore education and training programmes for indigenous practitioners
- Explore education and training programmes for Western healthcare practitioners on indigenous knowledge and practice
- Support commercialism and entrepreneurship initiatives stemming from the utilisation of indigenous knowledge
- Promote agricultural methods ained at preservation and conservation of plants used for healing purposes.
Head of the National Traditional Healers of SA, Sazi Mhlongo, applauded the move to work in conjunction with medical doctors, but issued a warning for the public to be wary of unlicensed traditional healers.
Speaking on behalf of medical doctors, Dr Nceba Ngqaleni said: "In research conducted it showed that there is a gap between traditional healers and medical doctors."
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