Liz Pavlovich — Switching places: traditional and western medicine

Echinacea, ginger root tea, acupuncture – all considered legitimate treatments by many people nowadays. But on the flip side of things, there can be a tendency to belittle the traditional medicine and traditional healers in non-western countries as reminiscent of the “backwards” lifestyle and health care. In Africa, where up to 80% of the population uses traditional medicine as the primary form of health services and access to western health services is absurdly low, this perception helps no one.

Reconciling where we should stand on traditional medicine is difficult for social and cultural reasons. It can also be frustrating for practical reasons, such the dire need for more doctors, nurses and pharmacists who are trained primarily in western methods to halt the spread of diseases like malaria that can be treated easily with the correct regime of modern medicines. But a symbiotic relationship between the two methods that promotes the best of both worlds is possible.

Local populations are apt to listen to traditional healers – these skilled persons are respected by their communities as a way to treat ailments of a natural or supernatural nature. They will persist as the voice and mind of those they serve. We therefore need to be able to work with traditional healers so that positive change can be realized. This means open exchanges between the two groups to break down stigmas and eliminate some of the conclusively harmful practices. Hope lies in the fact that some organizations and African governments have already created courses to educate traditional healers on prevention and detection of HIV/AIDS. These healers are now agents of positive change to help stop the spread of this pandemic.

My work with the Touch Foundation in Tanzania to support a university that trains doctors and other health workers is not in spite of traditional medicine. Part of our mission to give people greater choice and knowledge, more confidence in health facilities as they become better staffed and equipped, and a much needed improvement to quality of life.

Liz Pavlovich is a Program Officer at the Touch Foundation and is based in Mwanza, Tanzania.