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Traditional medical practitioners were recently encouraged to abide by the rules of the country and register as legally practicing professionals.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association (ZINPA) in collaboration with Traditional Medical Practitioners Council (TMPC) and Child Protection Unit representatives attended the meeting held in Chinhoyi.
ZINPA registers traditional healers, herbalists, faith healers and apostolic sects, mid wives and healing churches.
The World Health Organisation also recommends that all traditional medical practitioners should practice legally.
The main reason for the registration is to reduce bogus traditional medical practitioners like witch-hunters (tsikamutanda). Families have been divided because of witch hunters’ false allegations on family members. They also rob people of their wealth.
A critical question on why witch-hunters do not operate in their home areas. Greediness and selfishness was pointed out as having dominated their practice.
ZINPA also encourages chiefs to know the number of practitioners in their villages, verification is required to support that information.
Traditional medical practitioners are required to bring details of their chiefs and headmen when registering for practise. This is for the purposes of future inspection.
Registering as a traditional medical practitioner also protects one from unfortunate eventualities.
Meanwhile, the traditional practitioners also pleaded with Government to assist them with the standardisation of traditional medicine so that they can have trademarks for easy clinical trials.
Weighing in on other issues, Mrs Anna Carson, the vice president of ZINPA outlined that registered traditional medical practitioners have the privilege to be educated on various diseases. This avoids prescription of wrong treatment.
The Child Protection Unit representatives warned traditional medical practitioners to stop child abuse. There have been several reported cases of girls who have been abused by false prophets and traditional healers.
False traditional medical practitioners have been perpetuating the myth that businesses can grow while sexually transmitted infections can be treated after sexually abusing young girls.
Children are the future leaders and must be protected from such abuse. Let us come up together and fight child abuse.
Sekuru Friday Chisanyu is the president of Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association.
Online Reporter