Abstract #343 - TRADITIONAL HEALERS AND MEDICINE MEN (HERBALISTS) CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PREVENTION, CARE AND TREATMENT OF HIV INFECTION AND AIDS IF WELL INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING.
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Session: 6.40: Posters A (Poster) on Monday in Chaired by
Authors: Presenting Author: Mr Severine Mallya - ., Tanzania, United Republic Of
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Additional Authors:
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Aim: The aim of this abstract is to call for:
Recognition (and copyrights for their works).
Educational support
Financial support
Involvement in the decision making in all levels
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Method / Issue: I conducted an oral interviews to:
18 religious leaders, from four different denominations, from which
two have evidently declared to heal the total of 4 HIV/AIDS
patients.
21 herbalists (not spirit healers), one of them have declared to
`cure` four HIV/AIDS. The first patient to be cured was evidently
publicized by different Tanzanian news Medias in the end of 1990s.
- Findings and personal experience from East African countries in
particular, and some other African countries.
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Results / Comments: Many countries, if not the world, have not put clear the policy on how these traditional healers and medicine men (herbalists) should be:
Recognized
Supported in education and
Financially
Involved in decision making, especially in HIV?AIDS issues
There is a conflict between HIV prevention methods (use of condoms)
between religious leaders and other stakeholders.
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Discussion: While many nations and the world in particular have their frameworks to deal with HIV/AIDS, there is a consensus that more need to be done to prioritize traditional healers and herbalists` contribution in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Traditional leaders and medicine men are highly respected in and by
their societies
Faith based communities are one of the critical constituencies and
stakeholders in addressing the gender dimensions of HIV and AIDS.
Traditional healers contribute much in the HIV treatment findings
Traditional leaders have wider outreach.
Religion, is not only part of the moral and organizing influences
and spaces in communities on issues of sexuality, but also provides
services to PLHA and orphans.
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