The intergration of traditional healing and medicinal practices into the mainstream of medical fraternity to improve primary health care service delivery in Bojanala West Region : the case of Mabeskraal and Saulspoort villages

Abstract

This study, was conducted in the two villages of Mabeskraal ( Tlhakong) and Saulspoort ( Moruleng) in the Bojanala West Region, North West Province in South Africa. The study was intended to establish the possibility of the Integration of Traditional Healing Systems and Medicinal Practices into the Mainstream of the Medical Fraternity in the region and the country at large to improve Primary Health Care Service Delivery. The major findings of the study were that: ❖ The majority of the community members in the Bojanala West Region still support, respect and use Traditional Healing for their health care needs; ❖ Community members in the study area believe that Indigenous Knowledge and Medicinal Practices are authentic, efficacious and capable of curing a vast variety of diseases and ailments, some of which are unknown to Western Medicinal Practitioners. On the basis of the findings, the following recommendations were reached: o Traditional Healing and Medicinal Practices should be officially recognized and be integrated into the mainstream of medical system; o Traditional Healing should be seen as a unique and authentic system which is independent from Western form of practices; o Traditional Healing has an important role to play in the community health care and complements Western Health System. o All practicing Traditional Healers should be properly registered with a body that is officially recognized and legally empowered by the state, that would issue certificates to all qualified practitioners, and o Indigenous medicines should be registered and licensed