Media Watch
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Sangomas get on board
Traditional healers, also known as sangomas, often claim to be able to cure a vast array of ailments, sometimes even HIV. It is quite the statement, considering that a medically viable cure is yet to be found. Yet many South Africans continue to seek council from these healers. It is a practice rooted deeply in many cultures, and as they preceed the arrival of Western medicine, the advice of sangomas continues to be highly prized today.Putting traditional healers to the test
The Daily Sun last week reported on a joint government and civil society drive to sensitise trainee traditional healers around HIV.
The main thrust of the initiative appears to have been focused on encouraging graduating healers to “practice what they preach” by knowing their own HIV-status before going out to provide services to people living with HIV.
Of the 104 trainee healers, 30 tested positive for HIV, “the people’s paper” reported. It subsequently quoted one of the positive healers saying: “I am happy that I now know my status…”.
Though the future healer is not identified, the article’s casual proffering of potentially sensitive information does raise some questions.Traditional male circumcision: A cleaner cut
This week a slightly incoherent Daily Sun article emphasised the fact that traditional leaders and the Department of Health are collaborating to minimize the deaths and injuries associated with traditional circumcision.
Chief Eric Galada is quoted in the article, saying that efforts are being made to ensure traditional surgeons and nurses use safer and more hygienic methods during and after the circumcision procedure.
Among the measures being taught are not using the same cutting instrument for more than one initiate and wearing gloves whilst dressing the initiates’ wounds.
Successful ‘circumcision season’ marred by few deaths
The New Age reports on the relative success of this year’s so-called 'circumcision season,' documenting both the good and the bad.Page 1 of 1 pages
