Abstract:
Collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical practitioners is now being accepted by
many African countries south of the Sahara because of the increasing problem of HIV/AIDS. The
key problem, however, is how to initiate collaboration between two health systems which differ in
theory of disease causation and management. This paper presents findings on experience learned
by initiation of collaboration between traditional healers and the Institute of Traditional Medicine
in Arusha and Dar-es-Salaam Municipalities, Tanzania where 132 and 60 traditional healers
respectively were interviewed. Of these 110 traditional healers claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS.
The objective of the study was to initiate sustainable collaboration with traditional healers in
managing HIV/AIDS. Consultative meetings with leaders of traditional healers' associations and
government officials were held, followed by surveys at respective traditional healers' "vilinge"
(traditional clinics). The findings were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The
findings showed that influential people and leaders of traditional healers' association appeared to
be gatekeepers to access potential good healers in the two study areas. After consultative meetings
these leaders showed to be willing to collaborate; and opened doors to other traditional healers,
who too were willing to collaborate with the Institute of Traditional Medicine in managing HIV/
AIDS patients. Seventy five percent of traditional healers who claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS
knew some HIV/AIDS symptoms; and some traditional healers attempted to manage these
symptoms. Even though, they were willing to collaborate with the Institute of Traditional Medicine
there were nevertheless some reservations based on questions surrounding sharing from
collaboration. The reality of past experiences of mistreatment of traditional healers in the colonial
period informed these reservations. General findings suggest that initiating collaboration is not as
easy as it appears to be from the literature, if it is to be meaningful; and thus we are calling for
appropriate strategies to access potential healers targeted for any study designed with sustainability
in mind.
