Chiawelo has an active community of traditional healers. A group of more than 20 healers, belonging to the Traditional Healers Organisation (THO), meet weekly in the community to discuss problem and support each other. The THO, an international organisation representing the rights of healers across Southern Africa, advocate for a strict code of conduct in order to “assure the values, quality of treatment, efficacy, safety and ethical standards of member practitioners” (For more info, see here).

Chiawelo Community Practice (CCP) has met a number of times with this group of healers to introduce them to the practice and to develop a working relationship. The healers explained that in the past, they have had a difficult relationship with the exiting public service as many of their clients have been discouraged by clinic staff from using their services. As a starting point, CCP has stressed an open door policy where healers are encouraged to send problem patients to the practice.

Future plans are afoot for a collaborative research project with this group of healers to model an effective means of linking the two healing systems.