In Kilifi County, nearly 4,000 traditional healers are calling on both the national and county governments to officially recognize and issue permits to all traditional healers across the country who treat patients using indigenous medicine.
The healers, who gathered at the Gongoni Cultural Centre in Magarini, claim they have the ability to treat various ailments that some qualified doctors have struggled to address.
Led by Tsuma Nzai, the group emphasized the need for the government, through the Ministry of Health and Culture, to formally recognize them and collaborate with medical practitioners to provide healthcare services, particularly in rural areas.
They also highlighted the importance of their newly established research center, which will focus on studying medicinal plants used in traditional treatments.
The healers expressed concern about the stigma they face, with some being wrongly associated with witchcraft, and are urging the government to officially recognize their role in healthcare.
Meanwhile, some doctors, including Eddy Chengo, a neurologist, have acknowledged the contributions of traditional healers in natural medicine and support granting them permits and better working conditions to improve healthcare delivery.
