SOUTH AFRICA: Traditional healers encourage patients to go for HIV tests

Some traditional healers in South Africa are encouraging patients to go for HIV tests at hospitals and clinics and overcome the stigma associated with the disease.

Speaking at an AIDS awareness event in Mpumalanga province on Tuesday, Progressive Primary Health Healers of Africa president Kaizer Gumede-Maebela, said most patients wanted "as few people as possible to know their HIV status", the African Eye News Service reported.

Traditional medicine continues to play an important role in the provision of health services, as many South Africans prefer to consult traditional healers rather than doctors, either based on culture or as a cost saving.

"When we recognise their HIV/AIDS symptoms, we encourage them to go to the doctor for a test at a hospital or clinic," Gumede-Maebela told the UN news service IRIN.

But those who test HIV positive usually return to traditional healers for help to alleviate the symptoms associated with the virus, and are reluctant to do follow up tests or receive medical treatment, he said.

"We don't have a cure for HIV/AIDS and we make our people aware of this. We give them muti [natural medicine] just to boost their immune systems, he added.

According to Gumede-Maebela, stigma and discrimination from community members prevented many from knowing their HIV status.

"They are shy and afraid to go for a test because they see how people with AIDS are treated. They know that people will talk about them and they will be treated badly," he said.

The organisation is currently involved in training traditional healers on how to properly care for and counsel people living with HIV/AIDS.