adminTina Musonza-Herald Correspondent
The Government has implored the Traditional Medical Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (TMPCZ) to closely monitor the activities of traditional healers and safeguard human lives.
This emerged during the International Medical Missionary Africa Society (IMMAS) launch of the Treatment Action Support Initiative (TASI) which will see the body complementing Government’s efforts in health access delivery through the use of traditional medicines.
TMPCZ, which falls under the Ministry of Health and Child Care, partnered IMMAS in creating a roadmap to initiatives that are aimed at providing health access through traditional medicines.
Speaking during the launch of TASI in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro said traditional practitioners have to be guided by the National Health Strategy which seeks provision of medical access that safeguards human life.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care is dedicated to work with IMMA and TMPC in the process of making sure that traditional medicines taken by our Zimbabwe citizens are safe, secure and useful.
‘TMPC, your mandate is to monitor for us the activities involved in the practising system, supervising and having overall oversight on all traditional medical practitioners, herbalists, prophets and all those who are involved in practice,” said Dr Mangwiro.
He said the TASI project implemented by IMMAS would open opportunities for the manufacturing of local medicines that were safe for use.
“My Ministry fully endorses the collaboration between IMMAS and TMPC which is in recognition of the importance of training and development of Traditional Medical Practitioners and all associated practice.
“We will provide you with all necessary technical and ministerial support needed for the smooth implementation of this noble Treatment, Action, Support Initiative(TASI) program,” he said.
TASI is an initiative that is aimed at providing education, training of medical staff, prevention of pandemics and response to pandemics as well as free health access to war veterans and people of old age.
IMMAS director Dr Zakeyo Chirume said the organisation had many programmes including the launch of a free medical outreach which will target providing medical access to war veterans.
This is in line with the national blueprint National Health Strategy in health care and service delivery which seeks to provide health access for all anchored on Vision 2030.
“We so it fit as medical practitioners to implement initiatives that will respond to pandemics that threaten the nation. We Government’s efforts in fight and preparing against pandemics that strike anytime,” he said
Dr Chirume confirmed a $200 000 dollars budget would be channeled into providing free health access to war veterans and people of old age through the TASI program.
“We have already mobilised funds that will go towards geriatrics a team approach to caring for older people and supporting family caregivers in September.
“This programme will focus on providing free health access to war veterans and old people. We are also going to establish a clinic in every province followed by caregiving where caregivers will visit patients in their homes and serve check-ups,” he said.
(TMPCZ) acting registrar Mr Givemore Kanda made it clear that the board was monitoring operations of traditional medical practitioners.
“We have been monitoring IMMAS initiatives as they launch TASI and we are guiding them to do things in conformity with the legal framework,” said Mr Kanda.
He said TAMPCZ had a memorandum of understanding and everything was set in place for IMMAS to continue launching their initiatives in support of the Government”s efforts.
“We are in support of traditional practitioners because they help combat pandemics like we saw an opportunity when Covid 19 we used our traditional medicine to heal people.
“Promoting local medicines will allow foreign currency to circulate in our country and stop importing drugs from other countries,” said Mr Kanda.
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