Health initiative boosts iLembe traditional healers’ services to community

iLembe traditional healers and community health workers have undergone training to expand their services to the community.

They can now screen for cholesterol, blood sugar levels and undertake blood pressure monitoring.

Announcing the initiative at a healthy lifestyle event at the Ntunjambili sports field in Maphumulo last Friday, deputy minister of health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, said the health practitioners were also provided with tools of the trade, such as blood pressure and glucose testing machines.

Dhlomo said this would intensify community-based health screening and testing to promote healthy lifestyles and the early detection of diseases.

He emphasised the importance of establishing a working relationship with traditional healers, as people often consult them first before seeking medical help at clinics or from doctors.

“We cannot discourage this practice, so it’s crucial to train our traditional healers to check for high blood pressure for example. If the levels are too high, they can provide referral letter to the nearest clinic, specifying the suspected health issue.”

South Africa faces a growing trend of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and strokes, which contribute to morbidity and mortality, placing immense strain on the healthcare system.

According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases account for 71% of all deaths globally.

South Africa has recorded an increase of 58.7%, from 103 428 deaths in 1997 to 164 205 in 2018.

Dhlomo stressed the urgent need for collaboration among all stakeholders to address this health challenge by reducing common risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and obesity.

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