THE ROLE OF THPs DURING COVID-19 Traditional healers

TRADITIONAL HEALERS

Traditional healthcare practices are largely informal and unregulated, despite the fact that approximately 80% of South Africans consulting the more than 200 000 traditional healers in the country who are mostly based in rural areas.

Traditional medicine is used for primary healthcare needs because it is more accessible and affordable. This raises questions around accessibility and the patient’s safety, not to talk about the accountability of healers.

Although the Traditional Health Practitioners Act was promulgated in 2007 to recognise this practise, many healers still work from home where there is little privacy for patients or their loved ones who are exposed to sick people. They can treat up to twenty people a day, while operating with little guidelines and while poorly regulated. They want to be included in the development to treat Covid-19 patients; to identify symptoms and also to keep themselves and their clients safe.

So how have traditional healers cope with Covid-19 up till now? Traditional healers, in the last year, were forced to adapt, cope with losing work and learn how to perform rituals online (Mail & Guardian, 2021)

Some of these healers had to move their place of work outdoors so that social distancing could be kept. Others now work in their gardens, saying that being so close to nature has brought a different dimension to their spiritual consultations. They may continue like this going forward. Like many other businesses they had to close their practices during lockdown, which brought about a loss of income and interaction with their patients.

The Traditional Healers’ Organisation says the pandemic hit their members hard. Wearing a mask and sanitise may not sound like a big problem to most people, but some rural places don’t have enough water to drink and cook, let alone wash their hands. It was difficult to acquire herbs for

remedies during lockdown as markets were closed and people could not move around freely. Luckily they found that they could courier remedies to clients. Respiratory teas especially were sought after.

Although group sessions are usually in high demand, these were discouraged. The emphasis is on emergency sessions, one person at a time. But even those sessions are scheduled so that surfaces can be sanitised in between. Health protocols are followed to keep healer and patient safe. Where possible sessions are held online; telephonic and online consultations forced many healers to learn new and technical skills. One way to ensure a connection between client and healer is by lighting candles on either side depending on whether the ancestors are happy with such arrangement. Many healers say that this digital move has had a positive effect on their businesses as they now can consult with many more clients and also further afield. Another solution to rituals is to teach the client how to conduct cleansing ceremonies and prayer sessions on their own. Some clients, however, are stuck in the old ways and they will only be reached once the lockdown is over. The performing of rituals, however, especially the slaughtering of animals or group visits to mountains or rivers, had been effected most. This is a problem, one healer says, because if the ancestors’ wishes are not appeased, it can lead to problems for the client. One of the biggest problems for traditional healers is that new healers cannot be initiated.

A database for traditional healers, GogoOnline was launched a while ago to advertise their services, but it was found that healers were held back from joining by a historical lack of recognition.

Covid-19 guidelines for traditional healers Traditional healers, classified as essential workers, want to be included in the development of new guidelines to treat Covid-19 patients. They feel they should be trained to identify symptoms of the virus while keeping themselves and their clients safe. Although their roles are listed, like triaging and referral of patients as well as public health messaging, they complain that the guidelines are not always clear and also difficult to enforce.

Phase one of the vaccine roll-out will include everybody at a healthcare facility in the public and private sector. This includes traditional healers and funeral sector workers.

For more information on the guidelines for traditional health practitioners in dealing with Covid-19 and lockdown, please visit: http://www.health.gov.za/ covid19/assets/downloads/ policies/Traditional%20Health%20 Practitioners%20in%20dealing%20 with%20COVID-19%20and%20 lockdown.pdf