The (THO) traditional healer organisation has blessed 13 traditional healers with a certificates and booklet during the graduation ceremony.
The ceremony took place at Lusaka Mamelodi east, Tshwane last week Friday.
Amongst the guests were members of the (THO) traditional healer organisation and representative from the department of health Sanike Masilela.
The Traditional healers were encouraged to join forces with the department of health and work together to heal the nations.
Speaking to THO Ambassador Franscina Tema told the Tshwane Talks that 13 traditional healers graduated after attending a five-day workshop and were also awarded with certificates and permits to operate as traditional healers.
There were also traditional healers who were renewing their certificate.
“We teach our traditional healers lots of things at the workshops before we could give them certificates and booklet,” ambassador Franscina Tema said.
She said the certificates were from THO and were to certify them as qualified traditional healers and that they were able to help the community.
The aim of the workshop was to teach them about the behaviour of traditional healers, the role of traditional healers in the community, how the sangoma’s can work together with the police, clinics councillors, and how to treat patients and students.
“We are pleading with the traditional healers to help in fighting crime and raising awareness against bogus sangomas within the communities and fight crime,” she said.
She said many people used their name and tarnished it and give healers a bad image.
“We want to change all of that bad image and we want our community to trust us and come to us for help,” she said.
Ambassador Tema said during the workshop traditional healers learn lots of things that their working space must be kept clean at all times, they must also be clean.
“The students passed with flying colours at the workshop and got certificates and are now ready to heal and help the community.
We are proud of the students and wished them well at their journey
to working together with the community and other organizations,” she said.
She said traditional healers received certificates of working with STI, HIV/Aids diarrhoea, TB, Cancer, nutrition, family planning, basic counselling.
THO Mamelodi president Collen Mabula said he appreciates the working relationship with the department of health.
“The certificates were from THO and were to certify them as qualified traditional healers and that they were able to help the community,” Mabula said.
He said they teach traditional healers lots of things at the workshop.
“We discourage traditional healers from taking part in the ritual killings and helping criminals win court cases,” he said.
Stanza Bopape clinic health promoter Sanike Masilela said as health promoter they always come to the ceremony of traditional healers and getting an opportunity to talk to them about health issues.
“We always encourage traditional healers to refer the patient to clinic or hospital if they can’t help the patient.
We have a good relationship with our traditional healers and we hope it stays that way,” Masilela said.
Graduation traditional healers said they were so happy and speeches.
They said during the workshop they have learnt a lot and were also taught about keeping their working area clean (Indomba) and how to treat their students and ill treat their students.
