is true partnership possible?
On one hand, the traditional healers’ claim of a cure is attractive to a fear-stricken public although the practice of traditional healing has variously been seen as contributing to the transmission of HIV. On the other hand, traditional healers are desperately needed as partners for a successful national AIDS campaign, especially in the hinterlands. To resolve this complex dilemma, the NACP/Namibia in collaboration with Eagles Traditional Healers Association/Namibia, met with 72 traditional healers for two days to: a. ensure safer traditional practices; b. define ways of capitalizing on their sheer numerical strength and wide distribution; c. strengthen them as counsellors. We learnt that each country needs to develop her own comprehensive educational package to orient traditional healers in these critical areas: a. understanding of the true nature of AIDS and HIV infection; b. ways to make their practices safer; c. as AIDS educators and counsellors.
