SOUTH AFRICA: University to train traditional healers

19 July 2009

The desire of many of South Africa's 180,000 sangomas - traditional healers - to be absorbed into the mainstream health system was given a boost last week when the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) launched a degree for sangomas. A bachelors or masters degree in indigenous knowledge systems is on offer at the university's School of Medicine, reports Nkosana Lekotjolo for The Times.

Once qualified, traditional healers will be able to diagnose diseases such as HIV-Aids, tuberculosis and diabetes, and refer patients to state hospitals. They will also be taught how to sell medicines and open their own surgeries. Professor Gundidza Mazuru, of the school's pharmacy department, said Wits would start training its first 100 students in September.

"Our first intake will be traditional healers from all over the Southern African Development Community," he said, adding that they would share some classes with medical students.
Full report on The Times site

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