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Traditional Health Practitioners’ Graduation Ceremony Kicks Off Successfully

Traditional Health Practitioners’ Graduation Ceremony Kicks Off Successfully

The graduation ceremony of over 500 traditional health practitioners (THPs) kicked off without a hitch yesterday (Tuesday, 08 July 2014), with Professor Nceba Gqaleni; member of the Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa and Honorary Research Professor at DUT, thanking all stakeholders involved in the project for the success it (the project) has enjoyed.

The graduation ceremony – hosted by DUT and the KZN Health Department- comes after the University Research Co. LLC (URC) funded project trained 520 THPs. The project came shortly after SA adopted a policy of Primary Health Care Re-engineering which states that primary healthcare should be sustained by integrated, functional and mutually supportive referral systems leading to the progressive improvement of comprehensive healthcare for all, and giving priority to those in most need.

Yesterday’s graduation ceremony took place at the Osizweni Community Hall, Newcastle. On Thursday (10 July 2014), more THPs will graduate at the Edumbe Municipal Hall, Dumbe Municipality, with the remainder set to graduate at the Belgrade Community Hall, Pongola Municipality, on Friday (11 July 2014).

Yesterday’s event was attended by Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo; KZN Health MEC, Councillor Jabulile Khumalo; Amajuba District Mayor, ward councillors and local chiefs.

“Our objective was to give thanks as well as a report on the project,” said Prof Gqaleni. “In the Amajuba District alone, traditional health practitioners (who were trained as part of this project) were able to see about 9000 patients, referring close to 500 (to local clinics) for illnesses such as TB and STIs. We worked well with the provincial Health Department in training the THPs. We also thanked the funders of the project, ward councillors and the communities who were receiving this service. They (the communities) trusted us enough to seek our services so we must thank them for their contribution”, said Prof Gqaleni.

The 520 THPs trained by this project were able to reach 22 715 patients/clients in eight months. Of these, 1 085 (+-5%) patients were screened for TB/HIV and referred to local clinics.

All the graduating THPs are now participating in the KZN Provincial AIDS Council, District AIDS Councils and Local Municipal AIDS Councils in their areas.

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

Pictured: Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo; KZN Health MEC and Councillor Jabulile Khumalo; Amajuba District Mayor (first from right), congratulate one of the 520 traditional health practitioners who were graduating yesterday. The graduation ceremony, which ends on Friday (11 June 2014), is part of a project seeking to increase the capacity of traditional health practitioners in supporting the management of HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB.

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