By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
Masvingo – Government through the Ministry of Health has engaged church and traditional leaders in educating locals about tuberculosis.
In January last year, the National Aids Council (NAC) introduced the Community TB Program which targeted at least 32 districts across the country.
Bikita, Chivi, Chiredzi and Masvingo were some of the selected districts in the province.
Speaking to the NAC on National TB day, Officer Anthony Matadi said engaging clerics and traditional leaders was a necessary step considering their large followership.
“Statistics show that 90% of black Zimbabweans have visited the faith and traditional healers which is quite a huge number as compared to the numbers that visit the hospitals. So we want the faith and traditional healers to have the required information and be able to refer people with TB to the hospital.
“Everyone should have their right to religion and no one should stop them but people should know where to turn to when they are sick. People do have a strong belief in them so it is difficult to make them believe otherwise so the faith and traditional healers should know about TB so that if one comes to them with the symptoms they can refer them to the hospital,” he said.
NAC saw the importance of engaging them as they want them to know how much their work is appreciated in the community as we fight for the end of TB. There is need to increase TB treatment and reduce the defaulters’ rate in the country.
Matadi said that the role of the faith and traditional healers should not be ignored as they are the ones who can change the people’s minds and get to fight TB and improve people’s health.
This will see the faith and traditional healers being equipped with the necessary information on TB so that they can be able to give the people who visit them the correct information and make them visit the hospital.
Talking to Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) Masvingo Chairman, Prosper Mhofu on the sidelines of the meeting, said there is need for people to know about TB.
“People have different beliefs in the society and it is necessary for us to equip them with the necessary information about TB. People should know that, it is not every sickness that comes with witchcraft as some may believe.
“For patients health comes first and that is what we are doing and we are now equipped with the necessary information for us to tell those who visit us,” he said.