Celebrating African traditional medicine

Did you know that August 26 to August 31 is Traditional African medicine week.

Ms Phephisile Maseko, the national coordinator of the traditional healers organization (THO) who describes herself as an advocate and defender of traditional medicine says this is an important week to healers and entrepreneurs of traditional medicine.

“The week is about commemorating African medicine, its breakthroughs and challenges in the country as a whole. On August 31 we will be having an exhibition of traditional medicine at Rob’s Ferreira for the first time to exhibit outside a health institution. This will be part of celebrating the African Traditional Medicine Day on August 31,”said Maseko.

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Maseko adds that traditional medicine is a holistic discipline that involves the use of indigenous herbalist combined with aspects of African spirituality.
She says traditional medicine had been tried and tested in healing different ailments for many years. “Our brand is still there, it has been able to stand the test of times because its embedded in history,” she said.

“Traditional medicine is culture and lifestyle to most of Africans, it constantly maintains the body. It also fits to our spirituality as it treat the body, mind
and soul. If you only treat the body we believe you are just applying a bandage on a wound but drinking medicine (imbita) is spiritually enhanced to our ancestors,” she said.

Research shows that about 80% of Africa’s population relies on traditional medicine for their basic health needs. In some cases traditional medicine is the only healthcare service available, accessible and affordable to many people on the continent.

The significant contribution of traditional medicine as a major provider of healthcare services in Africa cannot be underestimated.