Seronga Men’s Sector Event:
Traditional Healer/Midwives, Faith Based Leaders & Medical Professionals-
Working Together for Community Health.
On 8 December 2009 the Seronga Men’s Sector was the sponsor of a unique event bringing together traditional healers and midwives, faith based leaders and members of the medical community to address the spread of HIV in the greater Seronga area. The event was funded by the Okavango District Multi-Sectoral AIDS Committee (DMSAC).
The workshop was held at the Seronga Police compound and was facilitated by Ms. Celia Kauthemwa, health education technician from Gumare district health team and Mr. Emmanuel Segotso, a lay counselor and moruti from Gumare Counselling Centre. Dr. Mpata Lumbu and Nurse in Charge Florence Nkaelang from the Seronga clinic presented specific information regarding the issues they are encountering as medical professionals in the health facilities in the targeted area.
Also present were the dikgosi from Seronga and Gunotsoga, the councilor from Seronga, the Chair of the Seronga Men’s Sector Mr. Douglas Khumalo, the vice Chair of the Men’s Sector and master of ceremony of the day Mr. M Ramphisi, and the Peace Corps Volunteers from Seronga and Gumare, Ms. Jennifer “Lorato” Katchmark and Catherine “Duduetsong” Lecesse. Participants hailed from various villages, cattle posts and settlements from Mogotho to Gudigwa in Okavango delta area. They ranged in age from late twenties to 85 years old and were evenly divided in their capacities as traditional healers/ midwives and church representatives with 16 healer/midwives and 13 church leaders from various denominations.
Seronga Kgosi Maeze B Maeze welcomed the participants to the workshop, which was officially opened by local councilor Mr. Kotongwa. The format of the workshop was both lecture style and interactive, with participants playing an active role in sharing their experiences and having the opportunity to have many of their questions and concerns addressed by the facilitators. This equality based approach proved to be a very effective forum for all sectors to work together to trouble shoot and problem-solve various issues that were raised in a respectful and effective manner.
The goal of the workshop was to educate the targeted groups about HIV and AIDS and to discuss their practices to identify ways in which they can avoid the spread of HIV and to protect themselves and their patients and congregants from contracting HIV. Participants were informed of the differences between HIV and AIDS as well as practices such as using razor blades (or any other method of blood to blood contact) with multiple patients. They were also urged of the necessity of using latex gloves with their patients and were provided with a box of gloves in order to begin this new practice immediately. The healers/midwives were informed of various resources that they could reach out to in order to continue to acquire gloves for their practices. Traditional healers were encouraged to register their practices to legitimize their businesses and protect themselves in instances of accusation of malpractice or other controversy.
Traditional Healer/Midwives, Faith Based Leaders & Medical Professionals-
Working Together for Community Health.
On 8 December 2009 the Seronga Men’s Sector was the sponsor of a unique event bringing together traditional healers and midwives, faith based leaders and members of the medical community to address the spread of HIV in the greater Seronga area. The event was funded by the Okavango District Multi-Sectoral AIDS Committee (DMSAC).
The workshop was held at the Seronga Police compound and was facilitated by Ms. Celia Kauthemwa, health education technician from Gumare district health team and Mr. Emmanuel Segotso, a lay counselor and moruti from Gumare Counselling Centre. Dr. Mpata Lumbu and Nurse in Charge Florence Nkaelang from the Seronga clinic presented specific information regarding the issues they are encountering as medical professionals in the health facilities in the targeted area.
Also present were the dikgosi from Seronga and Gunotsoga, the councilor from Seronga, the Chair of the Seronga Men’s Sector Mr. Douglas Khumalo, the vice Chair of the Men’s Sector and master of ceremony of the day Mr. M Ramphisi, and the Peace Corps Volunteers from Seronga and Gumare, Ms. Jennifer “Lorato” Katchmark and Catherine “Duduetsong” Lecesse. Participants hailed from various villages, cattle posts and settlements from Mogotho to Gudigwa in Okavango delta area. They ranged in age from late twenties to 85 years old and were evenly divided in their capacities as traditional healers/ midwives and church representatives with 16 healer/midwives and 13 church leaders from various denominations.
Seronga Kgosi Maeze B Maeze welcomed the participants to the workshop, which was officially opened by local councilor Mr. Kotongwa. The format of the workshop was both lecture style and interactive, with participants playing an active role in sharing their experiences and having the opportunity to have many of their questions and concerns addressed by the facilitators. This equality based approach proved to be a very effective forum for all sectors to work together to trouble shoot and problem-solve various issues that were raised in a respectful and effective manner.
The goal of the workshop was to educate the targeted groups about HIV and AIDS and to discuss their practices to identify ways in which they can avoid the spread of HIV and to protect themselves and their patients and congregants from contracting HIV. Participants were informed of the differences between HIV and AIDS as well as practices such as using razor blades (or any other method of blood to blood contact) with multiple patients. They were also urged of the necessity of using latex gloves with their patients and were provided with a box of gloves in order to begin this new practice immediately. The healers/midwives were informed of various resources that they could reach out to in order to continue to acquire gloves for their practices. Traditional healers were encouraged to register their practices to legitimize their businesses and protect themselves in instances of accusation of malpractice or other controversy.
The views and customs of the traditional healers/midwives were quite openly shared with the medical professionals, giving them much greater insight into potential areas of conflict in various treatment regimens and traditional practices. There was an emphasis on how all involved sectors can work together and refer patients and clients to each other for complimentary treatments and services. Medical professionals urged the traditional healers to encourage their clients to bring their clinic health cards to their appointments for better coordination of services. The importance of bringing patients into the clinic in a timely manner, especially pregnant women who are in labor was emphasized as well as those showing symptoms of HIV or AIDS. Faith based leaders were implored to continue to support those in their congregations suffering from HIV and to encourage them to continue to adhere to ARV’s and the use of condoms.
Throughout the day participants repeatedly and enthusiastically expressed their understanding that they know they themselves cannot cure HIV and AIDS, and also showed a great deal of support and respect for the services provided at the local health facilities. Many reiterated their appreciation for the information they were given during the day and were pleased with the respect they felt they were shown by being targeted as important stakeholders in the prevention of spreading HIV. They expressed their intent to go back to their communities to continue to share the information they had been given.
Organizers of the event judged it to be a success, and feel it is an important type of event to replicate widely as these stakeholders have the potential to impact many members of their communities. Traditional healers, midwives and faith based leaders, while having a tremendous impact within communities have often been shunned or ignored by those attempting to address the spread of HIV. This workshop proved that when approached with respect and humility these important stakeholders can be eager to gain new knowledge and are even open to changing their traditional practices and beliefs and culture to better protect themselves and their clients from contracting HIV. Increasing their understanding of HIV/AIDS, prevention strategies and proper adherence to ARV’s may prove to be an effective way to reach populations who have been historically difficult to address and inform. Members of these important sectors of the community are very interested in improving the lives of those they serve by spreading messages of prevention in their unique capacities and should be utilized to the fullest.
Throughout the day participants repeatedly and enthusiastically expressed their understanding that they know they themselves cannot cure HIV and AIDS, and also showed a great deal of support and respect for the services provided at the local health facilities. Many reiterated their appreciation for the information they were given during the day and were pleased with the respect they felt they were shown by being targeted as important stakeholders in the prevention of spreading HIV. They expressed their intent to go back to their communities to continue to share the information they had been given.
Organizers of the event judged it to be a success, and feel it is an important type of event to replicate widely as these stakeholders have the potential to impact many members of their communities. Traditional healers, midwives and faith based leaders, while having a tremendous impact within communities have often been shunned or ignored by those attempting to address the spread of HIV. This workshop proved that when approached with respect and humility these important stakeholders can be eager to gain new knowledge and are even open to changing their traditional practices and beliefs and culture to better protect themselves and their clients from contracting HIV. Increasing their understanding of HIV/AIDS, prevention strategies and proper adherence to ARV’s may prove to be an effective way to reach populations who have been historically difficult to address and inform. Members of these important sectors of the community are very interested in improving the lives of those they serve by spreading messages of prevention in their unique capacities and should be utilized to the fullest.
*** this is the report that Mr. Khumalo, the policeman from the Seronga Police and Chair of the Men's Sector Committee, and I put together. The original report is much cooler with the pictures artfully added in, but it appears blogger is a little past my area of expertise in terms of putting them where I want them ;-0
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