NEW: ‘Traditional healers have role in drug abuse fight’

Online Reporter

TRADITIONAL healers have called on Government to recognise and acknowledge the important role they play in the fight against drug and substance abuse.

They also called for inclusion in programmes that are aimed at fighting the drug and substance scourge in the country.

Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association president Bishop Cuthbert Nyaruvenda (who is both a faith and traditional healer) said the fact that traditional healers’ effectiveness in treating mental disorders is not scientifically proven is working against them.

“From time immemorial, traditional healers are known to cure mental disorders.

“With or without scientific approval, it is a known fact that traditional herbs can cure some forms of mental disorder,” he said.

Apart from curing mental disorders, traditional healers’ interventions are said to be capable of relieving stress and improving mild symptoms in common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Sekuru Kanengo (Jimson Nyasara) said traditional healers are playing an important role in the fight against drug and substance abuse.

“If you visit one or two traditional healers, you will notice that there will be one or two mental patients that will be attended to.

“The majority of these patients are drug and substance abusers,” he said.

“Their presence means that society is aware of the fact that traditional healers are capable of treating mental disorders that are caused by drug and substance abuse.”