The Sunday Mail
Friday Chisanyu
Traditional medical practitioners play a vital role in cases of ill-health as well as in dealing with spiritual, moral, psychological and social problems. They are also innovators and developers of a number of traditional medicines in use today.
Since time immemorial, there has never been a shortage of traditional medical practitioners and their medicine. Over the years, they have acquired the knowledge of treating and preventing malaria by different traditional methods. In indigenous knowledge health systems, there are signs and symptoms of malaria although they differ a bit from region to region.
Traditional medical practitioners know that malaria is one of the leading causes of death in some parts of the world. Malaria is a disease that is not caused by spiritual problems. However, it can be treated by traditional medicine.
Some traditional medicinal plants have active ingredients that destroy malaria parasites and eliminate them from the blood stream.
In the traditional medicine practice, it is well known that young children and pregnant women are the most vulnerable to malaria. It also realises that stagnant water is the breeding source for mosquitoes.
Unfortunately, signs and symptoms of malaria are a bit difficult for some traditional medical practitioners to diagnose in toddlers.
A fortnight ago, departments in the Ministry of Health and Child Care the Traditional Medical Practitioners Council and traditional medical practitioners and their associations held a workshop to share health information on signs and symptoms of malaria, treatment and prevention in Bulawayo.
It was brought to the fore that both systems are useful in the fight to eliminate malaria. There were also proposals that more combined workshops need to be done in areas most prone to malaria.
The modern and traditional medical practitioners exchange patients due to patients’ decisions. There is a lot of co-operation between the two fields.
Participants noted the need to step up in the fight against malaria since there are poor prevention methods of malaria. The Ministry of Health and Child Care, for example, provides mosquito nets free of charge and this must be commended.
Traditional Medical Practitioners where impressed by the presentation from the malaria prevention department and agreed to advocate for proper referral systems and clear communication on health information concerning malaria and other diseases. They will also disseminate information concerning malaria and other diseases in their communities.
Traditional Medical Practitioner slogan
Health information is power
Knowledge is the key to success
A life prepared is a life saved
Malaria can be prevented if knowledge and resources are provided
· Malaria can be cured if treated or referred to health institutions in time
Sekuru Friday Chisanyu is the president of Zimbabwe National Practioneers Association.
