The star Online
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Dozens of traditional healers have marched to the Department of Health's offices in central Johannesburg to demand recognition of their medicines, including the establishment of a provincial traditional medicine directorate and the speeding up of the Traditional Healers Practice Act.
Attired in red sangoma outfits, they knelt in front of the offices and burnt incense - the way traditional healers talk to their ancestors.
They then handed in a memorandum voicing their grievances to the chief director of the Department of Health, Dr Patrick Maduna
The memorandum read: "We are here to support the efforts of the Minister of Health, Dr Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang, in fighting for the recognition of natural remedies in addressing Aids and chronic diseases.
"Traditional health practitioners' professional standards should be improved through continuous training and development. Traditional healing forms must be equally marketed and promoted by the government."