South Africa's traditional healers help fight HIV

[xyahka]

I liked this news, it is an example that in a war against hiv everyone can help to defeat the "Hiv animal" as they call it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070604/hl_nm/safrica_aids_healers_dc_2;_ylt=ArHVV1qXIaQO_tQErcDZHQKgyygB

Juan Carlos (who is happy when he see more people doing something against AIDS/HIV)

[RobT]

Is this real? I have my doubts until it has been tested.

Rob

[xyahka]

I guess it should be real if published by Y a h o o / R e u t e r s. Sometimes good things do happens.

Juan Carlos

[livingpos]

To really appreciate the good news in this you have to know what things were like before. Condoms were taboo and HIV was not recognized as life threatening requiring ongoing medical support and ARVs. In some very traditional areas condoms are seen as an assault on one's manood and hence the spread olf many diseases. That traditional healers will now promote condom use is revolutionary! A few years ago the news full of stories where traditional healers would recommend sex with a virgin as a cure for HIV! The new understanding of HIV and the integration of traditional practices with clinical medicine is a huge step in the right direction.

Now if Msimang (health minister) would stop preaching her ignorance and throw government support behind testing and medicines thousands of people would benefit.

[Angel-Ronnie]

To really appreciate the good news in this you have to know what things were like before. Condoms were taboo and HIV was not recognized as life threatening requiring ongoing medical support and ARVs. In some very traditional areas condoms are seen as an assault on one's manood and hence the spread olf many diseases. That traditional healers will now promote condom use is revolutionary! A few years ago the news full of stories where traditional healers would recommend sex with a virgin as a cure for HIV! The new understanding of HIV and the integration of traditional practices with clinical medicine is a huge step in the right direction.

Now if Msimang (health minister) would stop preaching her ignorance and throw government support behind testing and medicines thousands of people would benefit.

being a South African and still living here sometimes seeing is believing but I can say that you still have the stigma where young girls are being raped with the idea that this will cure their HIV/AIDS status and unfortunately it still happens. I have to say the sangomas need to undo what they started by telling the guys that has been affected by hiv to have sex with a virgin. They rape young toddlers from age 3 to heal this disease but little knowing that they are destroying that young childs life. Some don't survive the rape.

Personally I think that it is a good thing if all sangomas or traditional healers can convey this message to their tribes because it is them who did this unlawfully quest in the first place "have sex with a virgin" they should undo this since they have now the power to do so and it will prevent child rape.

yes there are an increase in awareness in this country and it is about time people get more active in this quest. I at times educate those around me and it is an awesome feeling when I walk away and leave everybody stunned. It helped me coming to these boards and did alot of research and info downloading. Educating others on prevention.

Angel

[Jeff64]

When oh when will Africans evolve?

This article saddened me how much ignorance there is.

[Matty the Damned]

When oh when will Africans evolve?

This article saddened me how much ignorance there is.

Jeez Jeff!

MtD

[xyahka]

Hi, i don't see this news as a sad one. It is good that sangomas are doing something to fight Hiv, few or lot, it is something. They speak about hiv prevention while many of us here do NOTHING.

I also partially disagree with this...

When oh when will Africans evolve?

This article saddened me how much ignorance there is.

I don't think "Evolve" is the right word. They are not living in the caverns time you know?. They are doing the best with what they have, which is actually very few.... if someone wants to see them surfing on internet then go and give them tools and resources... not only criticism. I think the right word would be "to addapt". Because there are some practices that could be accepted in the old times of humankind but are totally non acceptable right now (rapes and so on).

Still with it, i hope that you all understand that apart those pity beliefs and behaviour that should be addated to the current reality of the world, there are many other things that have no reason to change. if they have sangomas.... then cool, it is their CULTURE. If they still pray to the God of earth... then cool, it is their CULTURE. The culture of countries should be respected, have nothing to do with hiv and CANNOT be considered as "ignorance" in my point of view.

For instance... i see no sense in getting drunk in St. Patrick days.... or other celebrations in other countries.... but as i understand it is their culture.. i save my comments, cause i have my culture and what we do here makes sense to me. I guess what you all do in your countries and they in Africa makes sense to you all and should be respected. Once more i am refering to those behaviour that are not harmful to their own well being and health.

Matter of cultural understanding. Think about it.

Juan Carlos
(proud that aborigens in Ecuador celebrate a ceremony to the God of Sun - "Inti Raimi"

[toplad]

As a South African, and therefore an African, I take offence to Jeff64's largely generalized and totally uninformed statement concerning the fact that in his eyes, Africans have not evolved with regards to the HIV/Aids epidemic.  The judgemental tone is not appreciated and I would suggest he walks a mile in someone else's shoes before delivering comments such as this.

The only way we will win the fight  is through sharing of knowledge and experience, empathy, a positive attitude and approach - not through lame derogatory comments such as his.

[Angel-Ronnie]

I have to agree with what toplad and xyahka is saying and therefor it is important that we as South Africans where possible educate those around us and the thing is we have evolved in a very broad spectrum in regards to hiv/aids and it is important that education starts with the tribal healers (sangomas) in this country. It gets easier discussing this issues that we have on the current situations for Msimang well much needs more educating herself and therefore most South Africans like myself are reaching out to those affected with Hiv/Aids and educate those in need since the increase in suicide are of big concern here. I have personally done a chaplaincy training caurse here to be in the position to start a support group to show people that there are so much that we can do to have a normal life in our society. Life to be the same as what it was before we were diagnosed.

Angel