Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
The National AIDS Council (NAC) has brought together traditional healers, herbalists and faith healers from across the country for a three-day workshop to strengthen Zimbabwe’s response to HIV, tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases.
The 2026 NAC and Traditional Medical Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe National Sensitisation Workshop opened on Wednesday in Macheke and is set to end tomorrow.
Delegates drawn from all the country’s provinces are attending the meeting, which NAC says is part of efforts to intensify prevention as Zimbabwe works towards its 2030 health targets.
NAC Board Member Dr Gilbert Chahwanda, who officially opened the workshop, said biomedical interventions alone cannot end diseases, and stressed that traditional and modern medicine must work in a complementary manner.
“The intersection of HIV and NCDs demands a holistic approach. It is no longer sufficient to treat HIV in isolation,” Dr Chahwanda said.
“We must integrate services, strengthen referral systems and ensure communities receive comprehensive support.
“Traditional and modern medicine must work together if we are to achieve our national health goals.
“You are trusted custodians of health and are often the first point of contact for many communities.”
The workshop has created a platform for traditional and professional doctors to exchange notes on HIV prevention, treatment adherence, TB control and the growing burden of NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer.
He urged traditional healers to subject their medicines to scientific scrutiny to ensure safety and effectiveness.
“While anecdotal evidence shows some medicines are efficacious, it is important that we subject them to scientific enquiry,” he said.
“This will improve health outcomes and create commercial benefits for healers and the people of Zimbabwe.”
The meeting is aligned to the ZNASP 2026–2030 strategy, which aims to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 while addressing the rising burden of NCDs.
NAC said the collaboration is meant to integrate services, strengthen referrals and ensure no Zimbabwean is left behind in accessing HIV, TB and NCD care.
