Valuing healers
AIDS action 1999(46): 2
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0953-0096 PMID: 12296171 Document Number: 526615
This article discusses the important role of traditional health practitioners and traditional medicine in the prevention and care of HIV in many developing countries. Traditional health practitioners are considered powerful educators because of their influence in the community as well as with other healers through their professional networks. They understand local belief systems and can explain illness and misfortune in ways that people understand. Moreover, they usually treat the ¿whole¿ person, not just the disease that is why many people come to them especially those with HIV. Therefore, because of their influence, it is important that they have correct information about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infection in order for them to be effective in the prevention of the disease.